HOME PARK
STUDIO
Final Report
Fall 2022
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Studio Liaison
Community Partners
Students
The Studio Team with the Georgia Tech School of City and Regional Planning would like
to extend our sincerest thanks to all those who participated in this student-led planning
process. The opportunity to engage with the Home Park community and associated
stakeholders has provided our team with invaluable eld experience. A special debt
of gratitude goes out to the residents of Home Park and the Home Park Community
Improvement Association (especially Brad Czerwonky), without which none of this
would have been possible. We would also like to thank Derek Sweatman with Atlanta
Christian Church for providing a neighborhood space to hold stakeholder interviews.
Lastly, thank you to Aaron Fortner for his professional guidance through this process.
Joel Hudson
Seung Jae Lieu
Michaela Master
Thomas Neaves
John Noe
Miles Rawlins
Samrawit Yohanis
Yuxiang Zhao
Aaron Fortner
Atlanta Regional Commission
Byron Rushing (Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Manager)
City of Atlanta Department of Parks & Recreation
Tara Buckner (Urban Planner III)
Sabina Kasumova (Senior Management Analyst)
Home Park Community Improvement Association The Residents and Business Owners of
Home Park
Atlanta Christian Church
Derek Sweatman (Lead Pastor)
Georgia Department of Transportation
Samuel Harris (Safety Engineering Manager)
Upper Westside Community Improvement District
Elizabeth Hollister (Executive Director)
Park Pride
Ruth Pimentel (Project Manager,
Atlanta Community Schoolyards)
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
08
04
11
18
20
21
23
26
28
30
35
39
43
49
56
60
65
70
CONTEXT
MASTER PLAN
APPENDICES
1. History and Background
2. Previous Plans and Studies
5. Overview
A: Stakeholder Interviews
3. Existing Conditions
6. Recommendations
B: Survey Results
C: Home Park Parking Restrictions Field Assessment
7. Community Work Plan
4. Stakeholder Engagement
3.1 Transportation
6.1 Transportation
3.2 Housing
6.2 Housing
3.3 Land Use
6.3 Land Use
3.4 Urban Design
6.4 Urban Design
3.5 Parks | Greenspace
6.5 Parks | Greenspace
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
1. HISTORY & BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
Home Park is an intown Atlanta neighborhood that traces its origins back to the
turn of the 20th century. From the beginning, Home Park has always been distinct from
other intown Atlanta neighborhoods. For one thing, it hasn’t always been “intown”,
strictly speaking. Despite its location just northwest of Atlanta’s central business district,
Home Park originally occupied unincorporated Fulton County, just outside of Atlanta’s
municipal boundaries. Known in its earliest days as “Chastaintown”, after the resident
and landowner Avery Chastain, residents of the neighborhood lacked access to many
of the amenities available to their contemporary city neighbors. Around this time in
the early 1900s, it was commonplace to see residents fetching water from wells or
trudging through the muddy unpaved streets after a hard rain. The neighborhood was
not lit by the relatively new electric lights that Atlanta residents had, nor even by gas
lights. Although it was not a farming community, residents kept cows and chickens to
provide them with fresh milk and eggs. Early residents described living in Home Park
“like living in the country” (Reections: Tradition and Change in Home Park, 1977). These
rural qualities, paired with its urban density and proximity to large employment centers
like Atlantic Steel, Exposition Mill, and Miller Union Stockyards, gave the community a
unique character that was cherished by early residents.
Photograph of the intersection of 10th Street and Hemphill Avenue, circa 1970’s
Source: Home Park Resident
Aerial photograph of the Home Park neighborhood
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
In 1909, Atlanta expanded its municipal boundaries to include Home Park, thus
granting access to better schooling opportunities and city services such as sewage
collection and water, gas, and electricity provision. Walkable, paved streets and city-
wide connectivity via a streetcar along Hemphill Avenue facilitated resident mobility.
This more modern Home Park also hosted an assortment of businesses, including
groceries, meat markets, dentists, and dry cleaners. Residents of the era recalled that
the neighborhood’s “economic self-sufciencywas a contributing factor to its robust
community fabric (Reections: Tradition and Change in Home Park, 1977). Along with
keeping income within the neighborhood economy, Home Park residents maintained
strong communal ties with one another through yearly celebrations. A Christmas
Serenade, a Halloween Festival, and a welcoming of summer known as “May Dayare
among the many traditions that fostered community bonds within Home Park. Whether
it was walking together to one of the neighborhood’s many churches or running into a
friend at the grocery on 10th Street and Hemphill, the layout of early to mid-twentieth-
century Home Park lent itself to community building.
The end of World War II saw the beginning of a country-wide trend toward
suburbanization. Driven by low construction costs, the creation of the Federal Interstate
System, and the end of segregation, a mass migration of urban residents out of inner-
city neighborhoods spelled trouble for Home Park. With an aging population and a lack
of new families choosing to live there, the single-family housing stock slowly began to
decay. Compounding these housing issues were expansion pressures from Home Parks
southern neighbor, the Georgia Institute of Technology. In the 1960s and 1970s, Georgia
Tech earmarked properties and subsequently followed through with expansions of its
campus into Home Park, eventually stopping its northward crawl at 10th Street. This
encroachment into the neighborhood took a psychological toll on Home Park residents,
as homeowners were “unwilling to invest in necessary home repair and maintenance
knowing that their home might soon be taken” (Home Park Urban Design Plan 1977). It
was also during this time that Home Park started to see a surge in rental properties,
many of which catered to the ever-present demand for student housing.
Aerial Photograph of the Home Park Neighborhood, circa 1949
Source: Georgia State University Digital Collections
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
1. HISTORY & BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
In response to these internal and external pressures, resident volunteers came
together in 1974 to form the Home Park Community Improvement Association (HPCIA).
This group has operated within the larger Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) structure
as a means for residents to take an active role in community planning. Still in operation
today, the HPCIA has proven a useful organizational tool for Home Park residents to
leverage their knowledge and resources for the betterment of their community.
The last 30 years have seen signicant changes to the Atlanta Metropolitan area.
1998 marked the end of Atlantic Steel’s near century-long occupation of the 138
acres north of Home Park. Its replacement, a high-density mixed-use development
known as Atlantic Station, now dominates Home Park’s northern border. Similarly, the
industrial areas west of Northside Drive have redeveloped into West Midtown, featuring
high-density apartment living with luxury commercial and retail elements. Home
Park currently exists at the epicenter of a rapidly evolving area, sandwiched by West
Midtown, Atlantic Station, Georgia Tech, and Midtown. In addition, the neighborhood
now has a more diverse residential makeup than ever before. A mixture of longtime
legacy residents, new and established homeowners, student renters, and longer-
term renters nd themselves coexisting in the neighborhood beneath the trees. The
neighborhood’s unique character and history are undeniably worthy of preservation.
Equally self-evident is the fact that Home Park does not exist in isolation and is subject to
the changes of the surrounding area. Only by taking an active role as agents of change
will Home Park residents be able to ensure that changes serve the community’s goals.
By considering both its historical and modern contexts, this report blends the strengths
of Home Park’s heritage with the contemporary needs of its residents into a concise list
of planning recommendations.
Aerial photograph of the Home Park neighborhood, 2022
Source: Google Maps
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
2. PREVIOUS PLANS & STUDIES
Home Park Master Plan (2002)
Westside Revive Plan (2019)
City of Atlanta Comprehensive Plan (2021)
The 2002 Greater Home Park Master Plan was completed in advance of Atlantic
Steel’s redevelopment. Three fundamental principles diversity, connectivity, and
synergy – with several goals and strategies were outlines to support the master plan’s
vision: “A unique, diverse and vibrant community setting the standard for intown living
and working. Through this plan, Home Park residents wanted to build a contemporary
urban village while embracing the neighborhoods changing surroundings.
The 2019 Westside Revive Plan is the comprehensive plan for Atlanta’s Council District
3; Home Park is represented in this jurisdiction as Subarea 4. The plan emphasizes
Home Park’s unique identity and places it in context as a part of the greater urban
systems around it. The recommendations in this plan seek to leverage Home Park’s
urban amenities, while at the same time preserving the identity of its single family and
duplex residential core.
Atlanta’s Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), also known as Plan A, uses the
Atlanta City Design as a starting point and framework for recommending specic
actions to address the challenges facing the city. The document emphasizes the
interconnectedness of land use, transportation, housing, economic development,
nature, historic preservation, and other aspects of urban life. Plan A lays the foundation
for thoughtful, carefully directed growth and development.
CONTEXT
Illustrative master plan from 2002 Home Park Master Plan
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
City of Atlanta City Design Plan (2017)
Georgia Tech Campus Bicycle
Master Plan (2017)
Cycle Atlanta: Phase 1.0 Study (2015)
The Atlanta City Design Plan outlines the overarching vision the City Planning
Department has for future development. This document strives to recognize the
important social, cultural, and historical events that make Atlanta the city that it
is today. With this recognition, the planning department identied key themes to
emphasize as the city continues to develop. This includes the city’s long legacy of civil
rights advocacy and its close relationship with the forest cover. It also includes the
department’s intention to design a city that encourages alternative forms of transit
and social development. The recommendations that are made throughout the book
include maintaining the unique character of the city’s neighborhoods and ensuring
future developments make the city denser and a better place to live. The plan’s motto:
Design for people. Design for nature. Design for people in nature.
This plan seeks to keep up Georgia Tech’s momentum in providing a bicycle friendly
campus experience. The plan’s goal is to make Georgia Tech the denitive bicycle-
friendly university. As close neighbors, Home Park and Georgia Tech share the benets
of a connected bicycle network. The plan identies one of the keys to bikeability on
campus is connection to the surrounding community. As a result, recommendations
of the plan include strengthening the bike network into Home Park on major campus
commuter routes and intersections.
Phase 1.0 of the Cycle Atlanta plan formulates a proposed network of bicycle
connections within intown Atlanta. This plan builds on the strength of the Beltline as
a cycling backbone for the city. A series of corridors are identied for development as
high-comfort bicycle routes. This would give a large portion of Atlanta bicycle access
to the Beltline, and further supports a vision of more comprehensive bicycle access
throughout the entire city. Home Park is bordered by Corridor B in the plan, which spans
from the Westside Beltline to the Eastside Beltline along the stretch of 10th Street that
borders the neighborhood. This planned corridor has the ability to provide Home Park
residents with a rst-class bicycle connection directly to the Westside Beltline, and
across the interstate to Midtown.
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3. EXISTING CONDITIONS
CONTEXT
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.1 TRANSPORTATION
Overview
Accessibility is one of Home Park’s greatest strengths. Residents enjoy the short
trip to several regional amenities just outside their neighborhood, and the ow of
Georgia Tech students to and from class contributes to the community’s identity. Local
destinations include Atlantic Station to the north, Midtown to the east, the BeltLine to the
west, Georgia Tech’s verdant campus to the south, and direct access to the freeway,
all less than a few minutes from the peaceful residential streets of Home Park’s interior.
Transportation in Home Park means being within walking or biking distance to world
class culture, shopping, greenspace, and trails.
Home Park’s Streets
The types of transportation facilities that serve Home Park are primarily two-way
roads with no median and sidewalks on both sides. Most residences are fronted by
local streets with 40 foot right of way, accommodating 25-foot roadbeds with on street
parking on both sides. The narrow lane widths and streetscapes of these local streets
are conducive to self-enforcing low speeds, supporting comfortable travel for all
modes. The exception to this standard of comfort is the condition of sidewalks, which
are so varied as to limit pedestrian access through some corridors. There are three
notable local streets that vary from this typical character. State Street and Hemphill
Avenue both have 60-foot right of ways with 40 feet of roadbed (State Street narrows
to a 50-foot right of way north of 14th Street). Atlantic Drive has 50-foot right of way and
a 30-foot roadbed. State Street is the only local road that traverses the entire north-
to-south length of Home Park and connects directly to Atlantic Station and Georgia
Tech’s campus. 10th Street, 14th Street, and Northside Drive are the three arterials in
Home Park. These streets see higher trafc volumes and speeds and have few modern
accommodations for modes of travel other than cars. Two bike facilities exist in Home
Park: a bike lane on Hemphill Avenue and the Holly Street Trail on the west side of Turner
Entertainment Networks’ property. The bike lanes on Hemphill are subject to a level of
trafc stress uncomfortable to most cyclists, and the Holly Street Trail is a substandard
facility, noncompliant with ADA standards and unsafe for shared use.
Looking west on 14th Street
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.1 TRANSPORTATION
CONTEXT
Street Classication
Most of the streets in Home Park are classied as local. These types of streets
typically have 40-foot wide right of ways with 25-foot roadbeds and on-street parking
on both sides, with some minor variation. Home Park has a loosely formed grid yielding
benets to mobility throughout the neighborhood, particularly walkability. The only
local street that spans the entire length of the neighborhood and into the surrounding
street network is State Street. The next most common street-type within Home Park
is the minor arterial. 10th Street and 14th Street are classied as minor arterials, with
four travel lanes with little or no shoulder. These streets connect directly to the broader
street network of Atlanta and serve larger amounts of regional travel. The highest
classication of road found within Home Park is Northside Drive. It is typically six travel
lanes with intermittent center turn lanes. The volumes and speeds on this road are
not conducive to neighborhood-scale travel, and its intersection with 14th Street and
Hemphill Avenue merit intervention, however GDOT is, at the time of this plan’s creation,
evaluating this corridor for improvements.
State Routes
Northside Drive and 14th Street are the two Georgia state routes through Home Park.
As noted elsewhere in this report, Northside Drive is, at the time of this plan’s creation,
being evaluated for corridor improvements. 14th Street is a candidate for recommended
action, being that it is a central corridor through Home Park, and its current character
may not support the community’s vision for its future. As a state route, 14th should be
noted as a focal point for future efforts to improve accessibility in Home Park, particularly
directed towards consensus-seeking and identication of values between regional
travel and community safety and accessibility.
Street classication State routes
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Vehicle Volume Counts
Vehicle counts on 10th Street and 14th Street are sourced from available, GDOT-
measured AADT for 2021. These volumes of trafc are consistent with a typical four-
lane arterial in the region. Interestingly, 14th Street was more strongly identied than
10th Street for safety concerns through community engagement, while it has lower
measured volume. Both streets serve volumes that make them good candidates for
road diets. Particularly, 14th Street falls under 15,000 vehicles per day, a level identied
by the FHWA as good for road diet implementation in most instances.
Regional Truck Routes
Heavy truck trafc is directed to 14th Street and Northside Drive. Residents have
identied heavy truck trafc as a concern through community engagement. Additionally,
heavy truck trafc is detrimental to user-comfort for bicycles and pedestrians. The
presence of these truck routes indicates that, should bicycles and pedestrians be co-
present, intention should be directed at more robust accommodations for those modes
to negate the harmful impact that heavy truck trafc may have.
MARTA Facilities
Home Park has access to multiple MARTA
bus lines. Home Parks access to transit should
be leveraged to increase options for mobility
of the neighborhood. As this plan focuses on
implementation within the scope of Home Park,
not the regional transit system, any interventions
in support of transit use are well served to focus
on comfort for users as they seek to access the
facilities shown in the corresponding MARTA map.
Vehicle volume counts per day Regional truck routes
MARTA facilities
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.1 TRANSPORTATION
CONTEXT
Crash Incident Reports
Crash data sourced from police incident reports shows the distribution of crash
activity in Home Park. The gure includes ve years of crash history from 2017-2021.
Not considering Northside Drive, the highest crash corridors are 10th Street and 14th
Street. The increased crash activity on these corridors identies them as targets for
safety interventions. This crash data supports the perceived lack of safety that was
identied through community engagement. Particularly, the intersections at 10th and
State Street, 14th and State Street, and 14th and Atlantic Avenue have clusters of crash
activity. Potential interventions may include corridor improvements, or intersection
improvements aimed at facilitating safe connections across these high-crash corridors.
Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) Incident Reports
Isolating crash incident reports that resulted in a fatality or serious injury identies
areas where the most severe accidents occur. Often, environmental factors such as
prevailing speeds and roadway characteristics inuence the prevalence of the most
severe accidents. These are locations where focused interventions can often be
implemented to alter those same environmental factors, with the hope of reducing loss
of life or serious injury. In Home Park, 14th Street experiences the greatest frequency of
serious crashes, with a total of six in the ve-year survey period.
Bike-Ped Crash Incident Reports
Isolating crashes involving cyclists and
pedestrians allows focus to be placed on the
most vulnerable roadway users. These travelers
are overrepresented in trafc casualties and
should be considered when identifying safety
interventions. Once again, 14th Street and 10th
Street are corridors of focus.
Bike-Ped crash incident reports
Crash incident reports KSI incident reports
14
Angle
Rear End
Sideswipe-Same Direction
Head On
Sideswipe-Opposite Direction
Not A Collision with Motor Vehicle
45.4%
27.7%
17.1%
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
14th Street Crash Breakdown
14th Street was a recurring problem area for roadway safety when examined in
the aggregate crash map, serious injury map, bicycle and pedestrian crashes, and in
community engagement. This road stands out as a concern in the area, and called for
a closer look into the crash data. Using the same database used in the crash spatial
analysis, the crashes along 14th were categorized by type of crash. Often looking
at the types of crashes most common on roadways provides direction into what
interventions may be most effective. In the case of 14th, most crashes were angled
crashes, commonly occurring during turning maneuvers. The next largest group were
rear end collisions, followed by sideswipe incidents between vehicles travelling the
same direction. Together these three crash types account for over 90% of the crashes
on 14th Street.
Local Bicycle Facilities
Home Park has two bicycle facilities within its boundary. There are traditional two-
directional bike lanes on Hemphill Avenue, and the Holly Street Multi-Use facility. The
Hemphill facility features posted speed limits of 35 mph, with no separation of bicycle
facilities and on-street parking on the northbound lane. This results in a Bicycle Level
of Trafc Stress of 2-3, uncomfortable for the majority of cyclists. The Holly Street Multi-
Use path does not comply with design standards for a mixed-use facility, nor ADA
standards. Home Park’s active transportation network does not connect to a network
with a high standard of comfort for all users. Heavy truck trafc is detrimental to user-
comfort for bicycles and pedestrians. The presence of these truck routes indicates that,
should bicycles and pedestrians be co-present, intention should be directed at more
robust accommodations for those modes to negate the harmful impact that heavy
truck trafc may have.
14th Street Crash Breakdown
Local bicycle facilities
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.1 TRANSPORTATION
CONTEXT
Regional Bike and Pedestrian Network
Examining the regional active transportation network, Home Park could connect to
the robust multimodal network around it. A planned multi-use trail on the south side of
10th Street should provide east-west mobility, as well as connection to Georgia Tech’s
comparatively robust network. There are also facilities accessing Atlantic Station.
Tapping into this network would serve to better connect Home Park to regional amenities,
including the Beltline, through existing connections and connections planned by other
entities.
Regional bike and pedestrian network
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Previous Planning Recommendations
To build on existing planning work done in Home Park, six previous plans were studied, generating a survey of previous
transportation recommendations. A total of twelve projects were identied. These projects were placed into a tabular
ranking based on the number of plans they appeared in, whether they were specically identied as a priority, and
their ongoing relevance to issues identied in this planning effort. This process helped support the selection of project
recommendations to be included in this report.
Project Description Appears
In:
City of
Atlanta
CDP (Plan
A)
Atlanta
Design
Guide
Westside
Revive
Plan
(Subarea
4)
Home
Park
Master
Plan 2002
GA Tech
Bicycle
Master
Plan
Cycle
Atlanta
1.0
Total
Appearances
Identied
as a
Priority? Relevant?
10th Street
Improvements
As a main east-west connection to midtown and commercial
corridor, these streets should reect design continuity with midtown
streetscapes. Design elements include: 15 foot minimum sidewalks
with 10 feet of clear space, a street furniture zone, street trees at
intervals of 25-40 feet on center, landscaping or porch/terrace
features on building fronts. Multiple plans propose a multi-use path
on the south side of the street, connecting to West Marrieta Street
and across the interstate to Midtown
Y Y Y Y 4 Y
14th Street
Improvements
As a main east-west connection to midtown and commercial
corridor, these streets should reect design continuity with midtown
streetscapes. Design elements include: 15 foot minimum sidewalks
with 10 feet of clear space, a street furniture zone, street trees at
intervals of 25-40 feet on center, landscaping or porch/terrace
features on building fronts.
Y Y 2 Y
Hemphill Avenue
Improvements Notable recommendations include bicycle lanes Y Y 2 Y
Northside Drive
Improvements A pedestrian median with street trees and potential signal timing
evaluation to support pedestrian access across the road Y 1 Y
14th Street MARTA
route A “fully integrated bus loop” through a major corridor of the
community such as 14th linking to the MARTA Arts Center Station Y 1
Ethel Street Day
Shelter Transit
Access Petition MARTA to recongure the 10th-Hemphill-Northside bus route
closer to the shelter Y 1
State Street trafc
Calming
Zoning Condition #4 of the zoning conditions approved by the City
of Atlanta for the Atlantic Station development, (Z-97-58) states that
the developer will work with Home Park to limit cut-through trafc
on residential streets perpendicular to and south of 16th street.
Trafc calming should be employed on State street, potentially
including: medians, greenways, street trees, planters, street parking,
narrowed travel lanes, raised intersections, bulb-outs, speed tables,
streetscaping.
Y Y 2 Y
Directional
Signage Signage at 16th and State Street directing freeway trafc to
Techwood Drive Y 1 Y
Gateway features Gateway features at entrances to the neighborhood (State Street)
can be used to indicate arrival at a urban-residential place, and slow
trafc Y 1 Y
Truck Routing Install truck route signs on 10th and 14th to designate these streets as
preferred truck routes Y 1
Parking
Management Limit parking to one side of all streets less than 30 ft wide Y 1
Paving Pave Hirsch Street, Laurent Street, Rosalyn Street, Flynn Street, and
15th Street Y 1 Y
Sidewalk
Improvements Install new sidewalks where missing and repair sidewalks in poor
condition (see map) Y 1 Y
Mixed-use paths Add mixed use paths to enhance interior circulation in residential
areas east of Northside Drive. Existing ROW on 15th Street and Laurent
Street offer opportunities. Y Y 2 Y
15th Street Bridge -Y 1
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.2 HOUSING
CONTEXT
Overview
Home Park covers about 450 acres of land and has 945 residential lots. The oldest
house dates to the year 1870 with new developments currently being constructed. The
housing in Home Park has been historically attractive for a variety of markets. Students
attending Georgia Tech take residence in the neighborhood due to its proximity to the
school and generally low rents. The neighborhood also provided a market for rst-time
home buyers looking for their rst homes. Home Park has maintained and increased
its attractiveness due to its prime location to major employers as well as a plethora of
educational and recreational amenities.
The housing stock within Home Park is primarily single-family residences with a
sizeable number of historical duplexes, triplexes, and shotgun houses. Out of 1055 total
property records, the type of occupancy within Home Park is split between tenant-
occupied and owner-occupied housing. Homestead exemptions were used to determine
the amount of each kind of occupancy. Through data derived from residential efforts, it
was discovered that 788 homes do not have a homestead exemption and 267 do have
one. From this, we can roughly assume the amount of tenant-occupied homes and
owner-occupied homes, respectively, as homestead exemptions are a tax exemption
only granted to primary residences in the state of Georgia. To continue to illustrate
housing in Home Park, while there are 1055 “properties” in the neighborhood, there are
2174 livable units. Of these 2174 livable units, 168 are part of a hotel and 955 are part of a
20 or more-unit apartment complex.
A house in Home Park that represents the neighborhood’s original character
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Role of Home Park Community Improvement Association (HPCIA)
The City of Atlanta groups the over 240 neighborhoods citywide into 25 Neighborhood
Planning Units (NPUs), each being coded by a letter of the alphabet. Home Park is one of
11 member neighborhoods constituting NPU-E. A property owner wishing to deviate from
city ordinance in a new build or renovation, for example, must apply for and receive a
“variance.The process for a special exception (e.g., requesting permission for some
nonconforming use of the property) is similar. Beyond intake of either application, the
process involves two phases: NPU-E review followed by review by the Board of Zoning
Adjustment (BZA) in consultation with the Department of City Planning (DCP).
Once led, DCP staff determine the specic variances required and schedule
NPU review and a BZA hearing.
Being one of the higher-volume NPUs, NPU-E leadership begins the NPU-E phase
by delegating a detailed review of the application to the affected neighborhood.
The neighborhood reviews and discusses the application with the applicant
and then votes on the application. In its monthly meeting, the NPU-E board then
gives the NPU-E representative for the affected neighborhood, the applicant,
and concerned residents of NPU-E an opportunity to support or oppose the
application before the NPU-E board takes and forwards a vote to DCP staff.
Moving to the BZA phase of the process, DCP completes their own investigation
and submits to the BZA a short, written report ending with a summary
recommendation, e.g., Approval or Denial, while the applicant obtains from the
city and places on the property a sign providing the required public notice of the
BZA hearing. In receipt of the DCP staff report, the BZA panel invites the applicant
and concerned members of the public to support or oppose the application
before taking a vote. DCP staff issues a “result letter” to the applicant whose
application is approved.
Although HPCIA, NPU-E board, and DCP staff are each given a voice in the process,
these voices are simply advisory, and the nal outcome does not require either
neighborhood or NPU-E approval. While DCP staff recommendations may often
be followed, the vote by the BZA panel controls. While HPCIA’s role and inuence
may seem limited in this bureaucratic process—even neighborhood review is not
technically required—there is still considerable room for growth to better support the
kind of community residents want to create. Within housing, further recommendations
regarding short-term rentals, parking, and beautication are areas where the HPCIA
can establish programs, initiatives, and routines that have a lasting impact on the
identity and lifestyle of the neighborhood.
NOTE: A rezoning application or a request for a Special Use Permit follows a similar
path through DCP, the Neighborhood, and the NPU, but replaces the BZA with the
Zoning Review Board (ZRB) and adds approvals by City Council (specically, the Zoning
Committee and the full City Council) and Mayor. An alcohol license application likewise
follows a similar path but replaces DCP with the Atlanta Police Department and replaces
the BZA with the License Review Board (LRB) and then adds approval by the Mayor.
19
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.3 LAND USE
CONTEXT
Overview
Home Park is predominantly a residential neighborhood. Single and two-family
residential uses dominate the interior, while commercial development can be found
along the major corridors of 10th and 14th Streets.
Residential properties are primarily zoned R-5, which is the Two-Family Residential
district. This classication permits duplexes in addition to the single family housing
permitted under lower intensity zoning. These properties also fall under the SPI-8
Zoning Overlay district, which was created in hopes of mitigating the on-street parking
challenges experienced by the neighborhood. SPI-8 increased the off-street parking
requirements for all R-5 properties from one space per three bedrooms to one space
per bedroom; the new requirements apply to new construction or modications to
existing housing stock that involve the addition of one or more bedrooms.
Commercial development consists of low-density retail, restaurants, and services.
With few exceptions, the properties are designed to be easily accessible via automobile,
with parking lots between the sidewalk and the buildings. The intersection of 14th
Street and State Street is, at present, the only area of the neighborhood that features
pedestrian-scale commercial development.
Zoning map of Home Park by parcel
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.4 URBAN DESIGN
Building Conditions
The physical form of Home Parks buildings can be divided into core and boundary
areas. The historic core of the neighborhood is almost entirely residential. Much of
the housing stock consists of the craftsmen bungalow style that was popular during
the 1920’s. There are shotgun-style structures, also from the 1920’s, as well as other
bungalow-style structures that were built in the 1940’s. Most of these houses are a
single story with deep front porches, gabled roofs, and wood and/or brick construction.
In recent years, newly constructed structures started appearing throughout the
residential core. These developments tend to occupy the same footprint as traditional
Home Park structures, but they feature modern architectural styles and stand taller, at
two to three oors. As a result, these new constructions loom over neighboring structures
and stand out from the surrounding character. In addition to the predominantly single-
family residential structures of the neighborhood, other uses such as places of worship
and multi-family residential uses are located within the interior of the neighborhood.
These structures are taller than the surrounding single-family residential structures, but
they feature traditional brick designs which matches the style of adjacent residential
properties.
The arterial streets that form the major boundaries of Home Park, 10th and 14th
Streets, mainly feature commercial uses. This results in a built environment with different
architectural styles. 10th and 14th Streets are major trafc corridors, so development
along them is oriented toward customers in automobiles. Structures are set back from
the street to provide space for surface parking at the front of buildings a classic strip-
style form of development. 10th Street also contains single-family residential structures,
a church building, and six-story apartments for graduate students at Georgia Tech. 14th
Street also features a diverse group of uses, ranging from ve to six-story apartments
and ofce structures to the largest mosque in Atlanta.
Example of a residential structure in the core of Home Park
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Streetscapes
The streetscapes of the neighborhood can also be divided between the interior of
the neighborhood and the boundaries. Major interior streets, such as State Street south
of 14th Street, have road widths of 40 feet with 5 feet wide sidewalks on either side. The
walking experience is quite exposed- pedestrians walking along State Street do not
enjoy any dense canopy or form of shade, though mature trees occasionally dot the
sidewalk. The sidewalks are, however, passable. Hemphill Avenue is another example of
a major interior road at 40 feet wide, but the inclusion of street parking and bike lanes
on both sides narrows the feelof the road. There are also more mature street trees
that provide a shady canopy for pedestrians walking along the road. Smaller interior
streets, such as Ethel Street or Calhoun Street, are much narrower which constrains the
speed and maneuverability of automobiles. The walking experience for pedestrians
is much calmer, as there are fewer chances for dangerous encounters with vehicles.
Interior streets also feature a greater number of mature street trees, with many other
trees contributing to the canopy from private land in the yards of residential properties.
The width of the streets is around 20 feet with sidewalks ranging from 3 to 5 feet. There
are a handful of areas within the neighborhood where the growth of the street trees
has physically blocked off a section of the sidewalk. At these locations, pedestrians are
forced to step into the street to get around the tree. People using wheels wheelchair
users, strollers, grocery dollieshave trouble maneuvering through these parts of the
neighborhood in their current state. Other sidewalks with hexagonal pavers are broken
up and similarly difcult to navigate.
The nal area for streetscape analysis is the corridor streets of 10th and 14th. Both
streets have a width of 40 feet with two trafc lanes in each direction. 14th Street has
5-foot sidewalks on both sides, but there is little to no coverage for pedestrians who
will feel exposed walking next to the street. 10th Street has a 5-foot sidewalk on the
north side and a multi-use path along the south side, built by Georgia Tech. Though it
has several street trees along the north side, it still leaves pedestrians feeling exposed.
There are sections of 10th street where the roadway is nearly ush with the sidewalk.
This creates an unsafe environment for pedestrians and causes rain runoff to deposit
debris on the sidewalk.
The Intersection of 10th Street and Atlantic Drive
3.4 URBAN DESIGN
CONTEXT
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HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.5 PARK | GREENSPACE
Home Park
The Home Park neighborhood has one established park, Home Park, which was
developed near the center of the neighborhood in 1958. The park originally had a
community center, which was torn down and rebuilt as a city-owned and privately
operated daycare center in 2003. Children from the daycare, called the R. Kirk Landon
Learning Center, do not use the park during the day, as they have their own separate
playground space. The City of Atlanta’s Ofce of Parks owns and operates the 1.8-acre
park, which currently includes a playground with swings, benches, trash cans, and two
picnic tables. This green space abuts the basketball court, which dates back to 1975.
High fencing currently separates the asphalt court from the rest of the park. Lights
are currently completely absent in the park. An estimated 7,597 people live within a
10-minute walk of this park, per data from ParkServe. The park does not currently offer
any programming.
The Atlanta Ofce of Parks denes Home Park as a Community Park, with the goal
of “meeting community-based recreational and social needs, as well as preserving
unique landscapes and open spaces”. As noted in the stakeholder engagement
section, the park currently falls short of these expectations. The City Department of
Parks and Recreation (DPR) Equity Data Tool, which uses a diverse set of data indicators
to help evaluate needs and guide equitable prioritization of capital investment and
improvement for parks and recreation citywide, has given Home Park’s total park need
a score of 198. This is higher than the city average of 168, but short of the highest-need
parks, which received a maximum score of 230. Per conversations with the DPR, Home
Park’s score is not high enough to automatically place it on the department’s Capital
Improvement Plan. It is also not included as a bond project in the 2022 Moving Atlanta
Forward infrastructure package.
The City of Atlanta’s comprehensive park plan, Activate ATL, kicked off in January
2020 and was completed in December 2021; the City released the strategic plan to
implement Activate ATL in February 2022. DPR staff visited each of the 380 city parks
during the planning process to identify park conditions and needs, cataloguing Home
Park as follows: Existing park improvements: Improved access, visibility, safety, security,
playground, multigenerational facilities, hardscape and landscape”.
Map of park locations within Home Park neighborhood Home Park
2
1
1. Home Park
2. Holly Street Park
23
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3.5 PARK | GREENSPACE
Holly Street Park
Holly Street Park has a much more recent history, as it was purchased in 2017
with funding from a community benet agreement secured by the HPCIA and the
Conservation Fund. The Atlanta Ofce of Parks took over ownership of the parcel at 1237
Holly Street in 2020, though the property remains vacant and has yet to be developed
into an ofcial park. DPR currently lists it as a “park in holding.” Per ParkServe’s estimates,
this 0.4-acre park will serve 5,205 people within a 10-minute walk once it is developed.
A conceptual design for the park was developed through Park Pride’s Park Visioning
program, which offers a one-day workshop for community groups to get ideas and
visioning for park development. The resulting design, created by a landscape architect,
is intended to create momentum for the park, though it did not include major items for
park development such as a ground survey of the parcel. As such, the design has not
been approved by the city.
DPR visited Holly Street Park as part of the Activate ATL Planning process, cataloguing it
as follows: “Park was acquired in 2017. Development to begin in Winter 2022. Development
of a new park amenities to be determined after community engagement.” The park
has not yet been evaluated by the DPR Equity Data Tool (EDT). However, the City’s 2023-
2027 Impact Fee Capital Improvements Element (CIE), includes a budget line item for
the property to be developed as a new park, with an estimated project cost of $500,000
sourced from city impact fees. The project, however, was slated to begin in January
2022 and be completed by January 2023. Though behind schedule, HPCIA can leverage
this capital outlay by the city to fund the park’s development and catalyze movement
on the park.
CONTEXT
Front cover of Holly Street Park conceptual design Holly Street Park
24
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Tree Canopy
One of Home Park’s greatest assets is its mature tree canopy. The neighborhood
is a sea of green, particularly in contrast to bordering communities West Midtown,
Atlantic Station, and the nearest parts of Midtown are all fairly limited in comparison.
The canopy is strong throughout the neighborhood, primarily in the interior, and is
weakest along major corridors, with the fewest trees along Northside Drive and 14th
Street. 16th Street is also lacking in tree canopy, though this could be attributed in part
to its relatively recent development by Atlantic Station.
Trees Atlanta, a local nonprot, supports the tree canopy in Home Park and throughout
the city. This organization protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest via planting,
conserving, and educating, with a total of 150,000 trees planted in the city since their
founding in 1986. They have been active in Home Park, with their database showing 103
trees planted in the neighborhood since 2009. The City of Atlanta is currently updating
its Tree Protection Ordinance, with the goal of introducing and implementing stronger
protections for the tree canopy by early 2023. The Ordinance, created in 2001, outlines
requirements for development, with the goal of preserving Atlanta’s status as a city in
a forest.
Density of Tree Canopy in Home Park
25
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
A thorough stakeholder engagement process guided this planning effort. Given the
residential nature of Home Park, heavy emphasis was placed on engaging homeowners
and tenants. HPCIA provided a vital link for meaningful communication with residents.
In addition to residential engagement, the studio team solicited input from a variety of
professional sources for additional insight into issues in and around Home Park. Public
engagement took place via three primary forms: resident interviews, an online survey,
and two community meetings.
Interview
The Studio Team interviewed residents both in-person at Atlanta Christian Church
(located on State Street in Home Park) and online via Zoom. The studio team contacted
participants via email and encouraged them to schedule an interview for the format
that best suited them. Interviews followed a standardized open-ended question list,
although ample exibility was allowed for free-ow conversation. In total, 13 stakeholders
participated in interviews with the studio team; 12 of these were homeowners and one
was a tenant. The full list of interview questions, aggregated responses, and analysis
methodology are included in Appendix A.
The studio team consulted various professional sources for information regarding
specic topics. These sources and a brief description of their contributions are listed
below:
Byron Rushing with the Atlanta Regional Commission: Provided an overview of the regional
pedestrian and bicycle transportation networks and discussed Home Park’s position in
them
Tara Buckner and Sabina Kasumova with the City of Atlanta DPR: Discussed the status
of Home Park and Holly Street Parks in relation to the department’s planning and
improvement efforts
Samuel Harris with GDOT: Provided expert opinion on transportation matters affecting
Home Park
Ruth Pimentel with Park Pride: Walked through Park Pride programming opportunities and
gave insight to Park history
Survey
An anonymous Microsoft Forms survey was sent out to the stakeholder list provided
by HPCIA; of the 42 individuals on the list, 30 provided responses. As with the interviews,
survey questions were open-ended to allow residents freedom of expression. The list
of survey questions, aggregated responses, and analysis methodology, are included in
Appendix B.
Community Meetings
The studio team hosted two virtual community meetings. The rst, held on October
12th, 2022, presented preliminary planning recommendations, inviting attendees
to provide feedback via the Zoom chat and a question-and-answer forum after the
presentation. Following a period of revisions and additional research, the studio team
hosted a second meeting on November 7th, 2022, to share nal recommendations
and gather any remaining community feedback. The Studio Team provided contact
information after both meetings and made copies of the presentations available to
community members.
4. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
CONTEXT
26
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
27
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
5. OVERVIEW
MASTER PLAN
The Master Plan is grounded in the stakeholder feedback and contextual information
gathered by the studio team. It consists of planning recommendations to address some
of the neighborhood’s greatest threats and improve the quality of life for all Home Park
residents. These recommendations are accompanied by the Community Work Plan
(found on page 56), sorted into the following focus areas:
Transportation: Improvements to Home Park’s transportation systems should prioritize
residents’ desire for safety and mode-choice through the neighborhood and beyond. A
new cross-section on State Street to add a protected cycle track traversing Home Park,
as well as a four-to-three lane road diet on 14th Street should be pursued for adoption
and implementation. These two initiatives will require advocacy and collaboration
between the neighborhood and the appropriate transportation departments, but
operating within the existing right-of-way means that these two projects represent
relatively low-cost and high-reward opportunities for the neighborhood to advance its
goals.
Housing: Home Parks residential life is core to the neighborhood’s overall character.
To preserve its residential quality of life, the proliferation of short-term rental’s must be
reduced to primary residences and vetted by the neighborhood prior to operation. The
inconvenient lack of parking tends to be exacerbated by overbooked short-term rentals
and visitors from the general public. Parking restrictions must be tailored to a street-
by-street basis according to the previous recommendations provided by the city. The
neighborhood’s visual attractiveness and walkability is dependent on the upkeep of
residential properties and clearing bulk debris from public rights-of-way. To restore
and maintain the appeal of Home Park, it is essential to establish strong connections
with the student-tenant community and the city’s solid waste services to clean up bulk
trash and ensure absentee landlords are involved in the upkeep of their properties.
Land Use: Home Park’s charming, close-knit residential core sets it apart from other
intown neighborhoods and should be preserved even as the surrounding area continues
to densify. Meanwhile, its commercial nodes and corridors should be reimagined and
reclassied to allow development that supports the desire of residents for walkable,
human-scale retail. The existing zoning ordinance and its pending rewrite are powerful
tools to advance these goals.
Urban Design: Home Park occupies a unique position within Atlanta and provides a
sense of history and charm that is somewhat missing from surrounding neighborhoods.
The neighborhood’s special form should be preserved through the creation of design
guidelines and the reconstruction of interior sidewalks. In addition, the neighborhoods
unique sense of community should be preserved and amplied through the
development of resident-oriented commercial nodes and the installation of signage.
Parks/Greenspace: Home Park’s beautiful tree canopy and park are unique amenities
to the neighborhood. The tree canopy is not stagnant, and needs to be directly
advocated for amidst the constant balance between development and preservation
efforts. The existing park is underutilized and not serving its highest potential despite
its size and ease of access in the neighborhood. There is ample opportunity to improve
the park, as well as strategically push forward efforts for the development of Holly Street
Park. Home Park’s greenspaces have the opportunity to bring neighbors together as
community gathering spaces, as well as offer recreational opportunities for those who
work in the area.
28
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
High-level master plan of target areas in Home Park, categorized by focus area
Transportation Housing Land Use Urban Design Parks/Greenspace
29
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.1 TRANSPORTATION
Recommendation #1 is a new proposed cross section for State Street, to include
a new, two-way cycle track and buffer, pursuant to best practices to ensure a high
level of comfort for all modes of travel, and for all levels of ability (T1.1). This requires
repurposing of east parking lane (approximately 60 useable parking spaces on the
half-mile corridor) to accommodate the cycle track and buffer. The two-way cycle
track was selected to provide a protected space on the roadway with a buffer for
bicycles travelling both directions, while preserving one parking lane, and eliminating
the potential for “dooringof cyclists. One special consideration that should be taken
in the design of this facility is the potential for chicanes of all travel lanes to preserve
established trees providing canopy coverage and on-street handicap parking spaces.
The following recommendations represent consensus in the neighborhood, as well
as current best practices for addressing the needs identied in the area. They are
conceptual representations of design treatments as they should be applied to these
specic streets in Home Park. These visualizations may require further renement, full
feasibility studies, and engineering to be brought to implementation. Projects labels
from the recommendation section align with those from the Community Work Plan.
MASTER PLAN
Recommendation 1: State Street New Cross
Section
Proposed State
Street cross section
from 10th to 14th
Existing State Street
cross section from
10th to 14th
30
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Recommendation #2 is a four-to-three lane road diet for 14th Street (T2.1).
Data analysis and community input identied 14th Street as the top concern in the
neighborhood due to excessive speeds, unsafe driving behaviors, poor turn visibility,
and an uncomfortable pedestrian experience. A four-to-three lane conversion on a
road with trafc counts like 14th (<15,000 vehicles/day annual average) has been shown
to redress the issues on 14th without serious congestion increases. Specically, a road
diet such as this can help slow vehicle speeds, improve visibility for drivers, reduce
the angled, rear-end, and side-swipe crashes that dominate 14th, and allow for a
more comfortable environment for bicycles and pedestrians. A road diet project such
as this can only be facilitated through coordination with GDOT. Community concerns
regarding cut-through trafc, particularly on Ethel Street, should be directly addressed
in a full trafc study to accompany implementation.
Recommendation 2: 14th Street Road Diet
Proposed State
Street cross section
from 14th to 16th
Existing State Street
cross section from
14th to 16th
31
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.1 TRANSPORTATION
MASTER PLAN
Visibility
In the 4-lane section, the visibility of
vehicles waiting to turn left is blocked
by oncoming vehicles or left turning
vehicles in the adjacent opposite lane.
This creates a blond spot preventing the
driver turning left from seeing oncoming
trafc and safely turning across trafc.
The center turn lane eliminates this blind
spot and allows the driver to directly see
the oncoming trafc.
Bike Accommodation
In the 4-lane sections without dedicated.
Bicycle lanes cyclists share the outside
travel lane with vehicles creating an
uncomfortable accommodation that
is typically utilized by only the most
experienced and condent cyclist. In a
3-lane conversion, the extra roadway
space can be reclaimed for bicycle lanes
to create a clearer, comfortable and
safer bicycle facility that encourages
broader use.
Turning Refuge
In the 4-lane section, vehicles turning
left onto the roadway must cross 2 lanes
of trafc to then enter into the desired
lane. This creates an increased risk of
an accident with vehicles traveling in
both directions on the throughfare. In
a 3-lane section, vehicles turning left
onto the throughfare must successfully
cross only 1 lane of trafc to safely enter
into the middle turning lane where
the vehicle can wait to merge into the
desired lane.
Existing 14th Street
cross section
Proposed 14th Street
cross section
The following six graphics explain some of the benets that road diets have been shown to bring
to four-lane roads:
32
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Intersection Improvements
The following conceptual intersection plans are aimed at bringing the proposed
projects closer to implementation by facilitating connections between the proposed
corridor improvements and the surrounding network. With ease of implementation
in mind, these designs rely primarily on road paint to establish right of way and
multimodal comfort. Wherever possible, nal designs should strive to incorporate
additional elements that prioritize comfort and safety for all modes of travel. Specically,
curb bulb-outs at the intersections of 10th and State and 14th and Atlantic should be
examined as a possible treatment to expand the pedestrian space and calm trafc. All
conceptual designs are subject to renement and nal authoritative approval during
the anticipated engineering process.
10th and State Intersection Improvement
Speeding
A 4-lane section promotes lane
changing behavior and speeding as
more aggressive drivers utilize the
second travel lane to pass slower
moving vehicles and travel through
the corridor faster. The 3-lane section
eliminates the second lane and
regulates overall vehicle sped to the
slowest moving vehicle.
Left Turn Queue
Stopped vehicles in the center lanes
waiting to turn left create vehicle queues
in a travel lane at unpredictable times
and places. Vehicles approaching this
queue do not always anticipate the
stopped trafc resulting in rear-end
crashes. A separated left turn lane
removes this situation.
Left Turn Weaving
In a 4-lane section, vehicles waiting to
turn left cause approaching vehicles
to spontaneously and unpredictably
weave and change lanes, increasing
the potential for sideswipe crashes.
Providing a dedicated center turn lane
removes the left turning vehicle form
the trafc ow and eliminates lane
changing.
33
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.1 TRANSPORTATION
MASTER PLAN
The 14th and Atlantic Intersection improvement includes:
Tree Removal
Advance Warning
Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB)
The recommendation for the intersection of 10th Street and Atlantic Drive is an
actuated bicycle signal head (T3.1). Currently, there is no guidance for the movement
of bicycles through the intersection coming northward from the bicycle and pedestrian
only section of Atlantic Drive on Georgia Tech’s campus. In lieu of an actuated bicycle
signal head, a sign directing cyclists to use the pedestrian signal (MUTCD R9-5) may be
installed as an interim measure.
14th and State Intersection Improvement
14th and Atlantic Intersection Improvement
34
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.2 HOUSING
Short-term rentals (STR) are a burgeoning business in the city of Atlanta, with an
estimated 7,465 of these properties1 currently found within city boundaries. According
to atlneighbors.org, 127 of these are in Home Park, but the HPCIA claims there are 266.
Residents of Home Park are concerned about the lack of municipal management over
STRs and how the proliferation of these residential businesses changes the character of
their neighborhood from residential to a quasi-hotel district. To address the increasing
pressure and ensure that STRs are held to community standards, the Atlanta city council
passed Ordinance 20-O-1656, Regulation and Taxation of Short-Term Rentals (H1.1) . This
ordinance establishes an application process for individuals who run STRs in Atlanta to
obtain a license to operate lawfully in accordance with city regulations. However, the
implementation of this ordinance was delayed several times to give STR operators time
to obtain licenses. Although this ordinance was approved by the City Council on March
15, 2021, the current deadline to obtain a license before code enforcement begins is
December 5th, 2022.
The application process requires a checklist of notarized documents and payments
to be submitted annually in order to obtain or renew a short-term rental license. A brief
overview of the application is as follows:
Signed acknowledgement that the STR ordinance has been read and understood
Submission of the STR operator’s contact information
Disclosure of the address of the STR unit
Utility bill, deed, lease agreement, or certicate of organization of the entity for proof of
primary residence/ownership or permission from the owner (if an operator owns or rents
two properties within the city of Atlanta and wants to make one or both STRs, one must be
registered as the primary residence.)
Submission of written rules stating the unlawfulness of excessive noise
Acknowledgement of the maximum occupancy rate of 2 adults per bedroom
Disclosure of the number of parking spaces available and their location
Acknowledgement that violations may result in eviction and/or nes
USPS mailed notication letter to adjacent properties of the intention of the property
becoming a STR
Payment of $150.00 and an 8% hotel-motel tax rental fee
Recommendation 1: Improved Management
of Short-Term Rentals
Map of Short-Term Rentals in Home Park (the
area bounded by 16th street to the north, 10th
street to the south, Northside Drive to the west,
and the 75/85 connector to the east)
35
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.2 HOUSING
MASTER PLAN
Although this legislation established much needed structure and management
over the industry in Atlanta, some neighborhoods need more support and restrictions
in place to preserve their residential character and quality of life, particularly Home
Park. Additionally, the ordinance comes up short on reducing the sheer number of
STRs. Obtaining a license may lter out a portion of individuals who cannot produce
the appropriate documentation and fees, but so long as these requirements are
satised, an STR agent can run any number of short-term residences. City leaders have
also acknowledged this gap in reducing the proliferation of STRs and have proposed
additional legislative measures to remedy it. Namely, Councilmember Byron Amos has
introduced Ordinance 22-O-1759, Home Park Short Term Rental SPI which restricts the
issuance of licenses to STR agents operating an STR solely from their primary residence.
This ordinance, once enacted, would return a level of comfort that permanent
residents have lost and keep the number of STRs relatively low in the neighborhood. By
restricting STRs to just primary residences, hosts are more likely to be in close proximity
with their guests and ensure that noise and cleanliness standards are maintained. This
arrangement brings the STR experience back to what it mostly consisted of when it was
a budding industry- families and individuals simply renting out extra rooms within their
homes for a short time, in return for compensation. Thus, it is recommended that the
HPCIA continue to support this legislation until its approval to secure this critical step
towards reclaiming the residential quality of the neighborhood.
There are more legislative opportunities that can ensure STR operators, and their
proposed short-term rental businesses are up to community standards before
operation. An additional measure to this end would be to require a special use permit
(SUP) in order to operate STRs within Home Park (H1.2). To acquire a special use permit,
a potential STR operator would be required to ll out the appropriate paperwork with
the city which entails meetings with the neighborhood planning unit and a hearing
with the Zoning Review Board (ZRB) this process ensures that the community vets
this business endeavor before its operation within the neighborhood. HPCIA can add
additional conditions surrounding parking and trash, so that operational standards are
at a level which satises the community.
Parking in Home Park has historically been a challenge to meet both residential
needs and accommodate visitor demand. Because of its convenient location to
schools, recreation, and jobs, visitors tend to use the neighborhood’s streets to park
their vehicles for most of the day while making last-mile trips to their destinations
through micromobility alternatives. As such, the neighborhood has been experiencing
intense overcrowding in their generally narrow streets and have made attempts to
manage it, particularly by creating a residential parking permit program, that residents
on each street can choose to implement. The impetus behind this was to give priority
parking to residents via the use of the residential permit. However, this brought on new
obstacles where the number of permits residents could get per household would be too
limited for their needs, and guests of residents would nd their vehicles ticketed after a
certain amount of time, which were both unforeseen consequences. Considering this,
most streets in Home Park have abandoned the residential parking permit program
altogether.
Recommendation 2: Parking
36
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Another attempt at addressing parking was through the encoding of the Special
Interest District-8 (SPI-8) into the city’s code of ordinances for Home Park. This required
that upon enactment, homes built in Home Park had to include one parking space
per bedroom on the property, so that parking for these homes would be effectively
off street and reduce the crowdedness on the roads. Homes that were built before
the installation of this legislation were and remain to be exempt from this rule as they
generally do not have parking spaces on their property and therefore must utilize the
adjacent street to park their vehicles. Nonetheless, overcrowding remains a pressing
issue in the neighborhood, with limited creative solutions.
A study led by the city twelve years ago took an assessment of every street in Home
Park that considered the size of each respective street as well as any current parking
restrictions or one-way conversions (see Appendix C for more detail). Recommendations
were made for each street, either proposing to add or keep parking restrictions or to
have no restrictions at all. The parking restrictions, one-way orientations, and width
of the streets have not departed much since the assessment, thus next steps for the
neighborhood would be to observe each street recommendation individually and
determine which are the most impactful to implement (H2.1).
Parking in the modern world is a common issue, particularly in vehicle-dominated
societies. As more protected bike lanes are built, and other multi-modal options
become more available, the number of cars on the streets will decrease, and so will
overcrowding from parking in residential areas. The transportation recommendations
in this document are also geared towards this end, so that parking in Home Park for
residents becomes less congested and more convenient over time.
A side-by-side comparison of public rights-of-way in Home Park, one with strewn bulk trash and the other with a clear path.
The picture on the right is the standard residents want to uphold.
37
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.2 HOUSING
MASTER PLAN
There are several beautication projects that HPCIA can jumpstart at little cost in
time and effort but yield signicant results. As mentioned previously, a large amount of
student tenants live in Home Park because of its convenient location to Georgia Tech,
and its generally low rents. Yet, student tenants are largely unaware whether housing
conditions they get are acceptable or otherwise and communication from absentee
landlords is lacking, resulting in bulk trash left out on curbs for long periods of time and
generally unkept premises.
Thus, working with student tenants to establish a Home Park Student-Tenant
Association is an essential rst step (H3.1). This organization would be best suited if
established as a student organization within the student engagement department
at Georgia Tech. This would secure its longevity within a well-established student
organization system and increase its exposure to students that would become tenants
in Home Park or funnel students that are already tenants into the organization. To create
a new student organization, there are a few preliminary steps, namely acquiring at least
10 initial members, a Georgia Tech faculty/staff advisor, creating a constitution, and
attendance to student organization chartering training sessions. Much of these steps
can be accomplished with the effort of student-tenants that have a vested interest in
establishing an organization and can help secure Tech personnel to become an ofcial
organization.
This goal of creating a Home Park Student-Tenant Association has its merits. It
provides an avenue for direct communication between and to student tenants, where
they can compare housing conditions and receive support from HPCIA to advocate
for improvements from respective landlords. HPCIA can also directly inform student
tenants of bulk trash pickup dates, organize swap meets to reduce waste during move-
in/move-out seasons, put pressure on absentee landlords to upkeep their properties,
and announce other opportunities for community involvement.
Although establishing this student-tenant organization is foundational to addressing
the large amounts of bulk solid waste left out on public right of way; additional
initiatives can also support keeping curbs clear. In addition to coordinating swap
meets, partnering with Goodwill or other local thrift stores can give student-tenants
an opportunity to donate their items if they are in good condition (H3.4). For student-
tenants who may not be a member of the organization, physical yers throughout
the neighborhood can serve a dual role by providing steps to handle their bulk trash
appropriately and invite them to join the organization (H3.3). Lastly, the City of Atlanta
does provide bulk trash pickups on an appointment basis, where 12 collections per
requesting party can be provided annually. The HPCIA, either in conjunction with the
student-tenant organization or independently, can schedule these collections, however
we recommend discussing the unique needs of Home Park with the city’s Solid Waste
Services (SWS) personnel and the ofce of Councilmember Amos. This is to resume
automatic, regular monthly bulk trash pickups, particularly in August during the peak
move-in and move-out season (H3.2).
Recommendation 3: Beautification
38
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Residents of Home Park have expressed a desire for more pedestrian-oriented
restaurants and retail options. However, many existing commercial properties, especially
along 14th Street, do not create a welcoming environment for Home Park residents;
auto-oriented layout with frequent curb cuts lead to an unpleasant experience on foot.
Adopting MRC (Mixed Residential Commercial) zoning standards will enable the type of
walkable, pedestrian-friendly environment for which residents have expressed a desire.
Specically, MRC provisions do not permit parking structures between the street and
the building façade; instead, parking will be located behind the buildings so as not to
disrupt the pedestrian experience.
Several commercial properties surround the intersection of 10th Street and Hemphill
Avenue. These parcels are zoned C-1, Community Business, and should be rezoned to
MRC-1, which will support low-density commercial uses. Other commercial properties
are clustered along 14th Street and are zoned C-2, Commercial Service. Rezoning these
parcels to MRC-2, which is designed for corridor commercial uses, will ensure that when
redevelopment occurs, it does so in a manner that supports the pedestrian experience
Home Park residents want.
Residents have expressed concerns about noise, trash, and other negative effects
that adjoining residential properties would experience due to moving commercial
parking behind associated buildings. MRC design standards address this concern
by including language that requires a 20-foot buffer and a 6-foot-tall opaque wall
between MRC-zoned parcels and any adjoining residential properties.
To accomplish this, HPCIA will rst need to submit a rezoning application to the City
of Atlanta’s Concept Review Committee (CRC); the CRC is intended to streamline the
review process by identifying potential challenges and highlighting areas to rene before
the ofcial review begins (L1.1). Once that is done, HPCIA will need to submit a list and
map of all properties it is seeking to rezone, along with current and proposed zoning for
each, to Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) E. Additionally, HPCIA will need to post public
notice signs on all properties it is seeking to rezone, advertise the rezoning case in the
Fulton County Daily Report, and mail postcards to all properties within 300 feet of the
parcels to be rezoned. After the NPU has provided a recommendation, the City Zoning
Review Board (ZRB) will hold a public hearing and provide its own recommendation to
the City Council, which will render the nal decision on the rezoning request.
Recommendation 1: Commercial Rezoning
6.3 LAND USE
39
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.3 LAND USE
MASTER PLAN
In late 2022, the City of Atlanta resumed the process of rewriting its zoning ordinance.
The intent of the rewrite is to simplify the zoning code, not to signicantly change the
character of existing established neighborhoods. The zoning rewrite will be a multi-year
process, with the Department of City Planning hosting several Focused Workshops in
the coming months; these hands-on sessions will provide a forum to share alternative
recommendations and provide public feedback. As a designated Conservation Area,
Home Park will have an opportunity to make its input known on April 13, 2023 (L2.2).
To express its desires for future development, the Studio Team recommends that
Home Park draft a Neighborhood Identity Statement (L2.1). This can be a brief paragraph
stating the current characteristics of the neighborhood that residents identify as
essential and worth preserving. It can also include the neighborhood elements to be
pursued or improved going forward. The Studio Team has drafted a statement below
that HPCIA can use as a starting point. This statement should be submitted to the City
by the summer of 2023.
Home Park is a neighborhood made up predominantly of small-lot residential
properties, with single-family homes, two-family homes, and rear-yard accessory
dwellings. The neighborhood has appropriately scaled townhomes and missing
middle housing developments which are integrated into the community in ways that
maintain and preserve its historic neighborhood charm. The corridors that make up
the boundaries of the neighborhood should provide desired goods, services, and civic
uses, all within walking distance of the neighborhood. Combined with safe and walkable
neighborhood streets and block patterns, the neighborhood is truly pedestrian-friendly
and enables residents to get around more without the use of a car.
Recommendation 2: Zoning Rewrite
Parcel map of Home Park with commercial properties targeted for rezoning shown in blue
40
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
The neighborhoods surrounding Home Park have seen an abundance of development
in the past two decades with the rise of Atlantic Station and the Westside Provisions
District, the continued expansion of Georgia Tech, and the construction of the Interlock
and other mixed-use properties along Northside Drive. Most recently, Georgia Tech
has received an Economic Development Authority grant to redevelop its 14th Street
manufacturing facility into an advanced Articial Intelligence hub, which could spur
redevelopment similar to that seen in Tech Square.
This highlights the wider impact that development within a single neighborhood or
area can have on the surrounding region. Therefore, the Studio Team recommends
that HPCIA establish and maintain communications with representatives of the
surrounding neighborhoods regarding redevelopment and land use decisions; whether
the Land Use committee or a newly-formed committee takes up this task is up to the
neighborhood (L3.1). HPCIA should approach Midtown Alliance, along with groups from
Atlantic Station, Marietta Street Artery, and Georgia Tech, and work with these groups
to set a regular meeting time to discuss potential development situations. Doing so will
provide a forum in which HPCIA can advocate for the interests of Home Park residents
and their quality of life.
Recommendation 3: Communication with
Surrounding Neighborhoods
Map of Home Park and surrounding neighborhoods
41
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.3 LAND USE
MASTER PLAN
Much like in other American cities, Atlanta’s residential properties are overwhelmingly
zoned for single-family use. This makes Home Park unique in that gentle density is
already permitted under its existing Two-Family Residential zoning. More than that, this
presents an opportunity for Home Park to provide affordable housing options while still
retaining its idyllic, quaint neighborhood feel.
To that end, the Studio Team recommends HPCIA form a committee to dene the
characteristics of preferred redevelopment under R-5 zoning (L4.1). Options to consider
could include adding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and converting single-family
detached homes to duplexes. Combined with housing policy and urban design
guidelines, this action could protect Home Park’s calm atmosphere and allay resident
concerns about over-development while still allowing more individuals the chance to
become involved and invested in Home Park.
Recommendation 4: Residential
Development Vision
Attached accessory dwelling unit
Source: Atlanta Department of City Planning
42
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Examples of Neighborhood Commercial Centers in Virginia Highland and Kirkwood
6.4 URBAN DESIGN
Stakeholder engagement with residents of Home Park revealed the desire for
community-oriented commercial development along 10th and 14th Streets. Common
themes amongst those expressing interest were mixed-use with residential units over
small stores and a maximum height of three stories. Rezoning the parcels along these
corridors to MCR-1 as described in the previous Land Use section - can ensure that
neighborhood-scale commercial structures are constructed to replace current auto-
centric properties.
Neighborhood Commercial Centers are spatially dened places that provide
community-scale commercial activities to an individual neighborhood; in this case,
Home Park. Customers from other parts of Atlanta can shop at these centers, but the
primary customer focus should be on the wants and needs of the residents of Home
Park. Examples of existing Atlanta neighborhood commercial centers can be found
at the intersection of North Highland Ave and Virginia Ave in the Virginia Highlands
neighborhood and the intersection of Oakview Road and Howard Street in the Kirkwood
neighborhood. The physical form of these neighborhood commercial center examples
is one that should be replicated in Home Park.
Recommendation 1: Neighborhood
Commercial Centers
The commercial center for 10th Street should be located at the intersection of 10th
Street and Hemphill Avenue (U1.1). This was historically a dense commercial area,
with Rocky Mountain Pizza’s building serving as an example of the older commercial
structures. The primary objective of this location is the redevelopment of the current
strip-style commercial structure on the northwest corner of the intersection. The
single-story structure should be removed and replaced with a three-story, mixed-use
structure immediately on the corner and a two-story structure directly to the west.
The two buildings are intended to be separated by a narrow passageway that will
allow access between the building fronts and the parking in the rear of the parcel.
The primary design element of these structures should be brick, with awnings over the
rst-oor retail spaces. This is meant to emulate historic “main-street” commercial
structures and provide an inviting building for residents to shop and dine. The sidewalk
along 10th Street and Hemphill Avenue should be widened to fteen feet, with ve feet
intended for sidewalk amenities and ten feet for open space (U1.2). Sidewalk amenities
should include street trees, lamp posts, and bike racks, though other amenities such as
benches and trash cans can also be included. The design of the buildings and sidewalk
is meant to create an inviting place that can easily be accessed by pedestrians.
43
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
A surface parking lot should be placed behind the structures on the north side of
the parcel (U1.3). The number of parking spaces will be determined by MCR-1 zoning
requirements. Currently, this means that there should be one parking space for every
two residential units and one parking space for every 500 sq ft. of retail space. The
northern boundary of the parking area will be buffered by a 20-foot transitional yard.
Any lighting for the parking area will be oriented away from any adjacent residential
parcels.
The commercial center for 14th Street should be located around the intersection of
14th Street and State Street (U1.1). This center is intended to serve residents on the North
side of Home Park, and the current land use around this intersection is aligned to provide
an opportunity for a true commercial core. Two-story mixed-use buildings should be
located on the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast corners of the intersection. The
existing historic commercial structures on the Northeast corner of the intersection
should be preserved. The development on the southwest corner should not impact the
former church structure that inhabits the west side of the block, in an effort to prioritize
historic preservation. The current structure could be torn down and replaced with
modern apartments, but it was decided that maintaining the church provides a better
community feel to Home Park. The developments on the northwest and southeast
corners should extend to Mecaslin Street and Atlantic Drive, respectively. Extending
any developments along the entire edge of the block fronting 14th Street will give the
impression that this is a true commercial core, instead of a cluster of separate buildings.
Structures at this neighborhood center should also feature brick facades. Each face will
feature storefronts on the ground oor with display windows and recessed entrances.
Buildings should also feature cornices at the top of the exterior wall. As with the 10th
Street development, surface parking lots will exist behind the structures fronting 14th
Street (U1.3). These parking areas will also feature 20-foot buffers and lighting oriented
away from adjacent residential parcels.
As mentioned in the existing conditions, Home Park is known for its early 20th-century
bungalow structures. Recent developments within the historic core threaten to disrupt
the character of the neighborhood. The neighborhood should amend the current SPI-8
zoning overlay to include design guidelines for any new structures (U2.1). Home Park’s
existing SPI overlay only concerns the parking requirements with residential properties.
However, Special Public Interest Districts have the capacity to guide the form and
design of new developments within the neighborhood. An example of an existing
neighborhood with extensive design guidelines is Vine City. Its SPI-11 Overlay breaks the
neighborhood down into separate subareas, to account for different uses. Home Park
could ensure new developments within the neighborhood match the characteristics of
existing structures and conform to any other regulations put in place. An amendment
to the existing overlay will be easier for the neighborhood than creating any new zoning
designation.
To initiate this process, the neighborhood should contact their council member and
the Ofce of Zoning and Development to express their interest in updating the overlay.
The neighborhood will be able to incorporate community feedback to ensure the nal
product is in line with the desires of Home Park residents. Feedback could be collected
via a new HPCIA committee focused on urban design (U2.2). Having explicit demands
for an amendment to the overlay will help expedite the process.
Recommendation 2: Design Guidelines
6.4 URBAN DESIGN
MASTER PLAN
44
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
The City of Atlanta has plans for improvements to Home Park’s main corridors, but
not for interior streets. As such, the neighborhood should aim to fully connect all existing
blocks with sidewalks, where lacking, and repair current sidewalks that are covered
in debris and/or damaged (U3.1). All maintenance, repair, and new construction of
sidewalks should be done with concrete, as brick and hexagonal pavers are easily
moved and damaged by foot trafc, automobile trafc, and tree growth. Sidewalks
should also be kept clear of debris, garbage bins, and general rubbish which render
them impassable. The neighborhood should require bins to be moved immediately on
days without any trash pickup. Current street trees should be maintained, though there
are instances where the sheer size of a tree prevents the replacement of surrounding
sidewalks. Property from adjacent homeowners may need to be acquired to allow the
sidewalk to curve around a tree.
There are a few locations within Home Park where street trees abut retaining walls. It
may be physically or economically infeasible to curve the sidewalk across a property
line. In this instance a “bulb-out or curb extension, which sees the sidewalk curve
around the tree into the street, could be used. Curb extensions are often used for street
calming or to provide extra space for greenery, but the conservation of Home Park’s
street trees warrant such a measure. In the event that a tree falls or is removed, the
sidewalk could continue on its straight path, and the curb extension could either be
removed or maintained as a space for additional greenery.
Recommendation 3: Interior Streetscape
Improvements
Example of interior neighborhood streetscape on Hampton Street
45
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Funding for neighborhood improvement could come from two sources: the City of
Atlanta and Neighborhood raised funds. Atlanta is working on a roadmap for repairing
sidewalks throughout the city, but there is a considerable backlog. As such, it may take
many years for the city to address Home Park’s sidewalks. This could be advanced if the
HPCIA made it clear to their NPU and/or council representative which sidewalk segments
need to be repaired. HPCIA can also pursue locally raised funds via neighborhood
events or fundraisers, in which a percentage of any money raised could be designated
exclusively for community streetscape improvements.
Mature street trees on Calhoun Street
Example of a Curb Extension in Santa Fe
Source: NACTO
Example of Street Trees affecting street right-of-
way in Austin, Texas
Photo credit to Guy Rawlins
6.4 URBAN DESIGN
MASTER PLAN
46
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Recommendation 4: Improved Sense of Place
Many of Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods go to great lengths to highlight their unique
sense of place through the extensive use of signage. Home Park lacks any indication that
an individual is entering or leaving the neighborhood. An example of unique signage,
that is common in Atlanta, is to hang on each home in the neighborhood. This is seen
in Grant Park, which features half suns with the address number of each house, and
Ormewood Park, which hangs trolley car signs. One resident of Home Park contacted
the Studio Group to show prototype signs for homes around the neighborhood. These
signs are shaped like orange oak leaves and are large enough for the homeowner to
display their home address numbers. These signs, hung from many houses throughout
the neighborhood, create a unique indicator that one is in the specic neighborhood of
Home Park (U4.1). It also adds a fun visual element to the neighborhood.
An example of Home Signage in the Ormewood Park Neighborhood
Prototypes of potential signage for Home Park Homes
Photo credit to Brad Czerwonky
47
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.4 URBAN DESIGN
MASTER PLAN
A second example of signage is a banner atop lamp posts and/or utility poles along
10th and 14th Streets (U4.2). Signs can feature the name, Home Park, or any information
on local events. This would give travelers an indication that they are entering or
passing through a unique place within the city. This is an important distinction to make,
especially as the development in Midtown and West Midtown threatens to diminish the
unique character of Home Park.
A nal suggestion for identifying one’s entrance into Home Park is a large metal sign
placed at the ends of each corridor road (U4.3). This could come in the form of simple
metal “welcome” signs placed at eye level and featuring Home Park-related branding.
Another notable sign type can be found in the Short-North neighborhood in Columbus
Ohio. The welcome sign acts as an archway or gate and physically indicates when a
driver is entering the area. Home Park could use these archways to better dene the
start and ends of Home Park and indicate to drivers that they are entering a new place
within the city.
Example of lamppost with a
banner in Midtown, Atlanta
Example of “arched” signage in the Short North
neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio
Source: Short North Arts District
Renderings showing potential neighborhood-scale developments at the intersection of 10th and 14th Streets
48
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.5 PARK | GREENSPACE
The parcel which will house the future Holly Street Park has been vacant and
otherwise ready for development since 2020. Developing the park will require two key
ingredients: attention and funding.
The park’s status of “park in holding” is creating a positive feedback loop of inaction
for development. The city does not include it in general park planning efforts because
it’s not an established park yet, and it’s not an established park due to lack of planning
and attention. Holly Street Park’s inclusion in the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement
Element (CIE) is a key item to leverage in gaining attention and support from DPR. The
CIE conditions its $500,000 allocation on community engagement efforts. Members of
the HPCIA are currently organizing to conduct a survey for what neighbors would like
to see in the park’s development. These efforts should be conducted alongside DPR to
fulll this requirement and focus attention on the holding pattern of the park (P1.1).
In addition, the 2021 Activate ATL plan lays out the importance of the newly launched
Equity Data Tool (EDT) in prioritizing park development and investment. Over 300 city
parks have already been evaluated and rated in this tool; Holly Street’s absence from
the list is another missing element in getting eyes and attention to the park (P1.2).
Though it might not rank as the highest need of all parks in the system, it will certainly
provide forward momentum in getting the park ranked and listed for future funding
prioritization. This is not to suggest that Holly Street will rank highly on the EDT – rather,
the city is emphasizing equity as a priority for the department, and having data on
this end will support forward movement in guring out the best way for the park to get
funded and developed.
Recommendation 1: Holly Street Park
Development
Local businesses landscape within ¼ mile of Holly Street Park
49
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.5 PARK | GREENSPACE
MASTER PLAN
Home Park’s namesake is a wonderful asset to the neighborhood; however, it is
currently overlooked and underutilized as a community space. Stakeholder engagement
revealed that some residents did not even know the park existed, or that they had
never visited despite living in the neighborhood for many years. Feedback on park
improvement centered around a desire for more purposeful activities and installation,
supporting a greater community gathering space which is currently lacking in the
neighborhood.
One opportunity to bring energy and excitement to the area is to create a signature
community event hosted in the park (P2.1). This is not a new idea – rather, community
festivals were a staple of the neighborhood in its early, formative years, according
to the 1977 “Reections: Traditions and Change in Home Park” historical document
acquired by the studio team. This event could be, for example, a back-to-school block
party in August or September, which is peak moving season for the many Georgia Tech
students who live in the neighborhood. The HPCIA could partner with Georgia Tech and
other local businesses in the neighborhood to welcome new student residents and help
them get acquainted with the neighborhood. This festival could bring in local vendors
and food trucks, such as the Muchacho Burrito Bus which is currently stationed semi-
permanently on Hemphill Avenue near 14th street.
Fundraising for the park’s development is another key strategy to develop Holly
Street Park (P1.3). Approximately 112 businesses are located within a quarter-mile
roughly a ve-minute walk of the future park. This is signicant for two reasons:
rstly, businesses within close proximity could benet from the park themselves, such
as employees taking a walk on a break or hosting small events in the park. Secondly,
roughly 60% of these businesses are locally based, meaning their success is in-part
invested in the neighborhood’s success. Getting local buy-in from businesses could
help develop neighborhood identity and pride. As such, these motivations can be
tapped into via a fundraising campaign for park development. The HPCIA’s 501(c)(3)
status further enables all donations to park development to be tax-deductible, which
is a key component of successful fundraising strategy. This local business analysis is
included as an appendix to the report.
Lastly, the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure package, approved by voters in May
2022, includes $161.4 million for parks, recreation, and the arts. Of this amount, $64.6
million is slated for park improvements. Key items within this category include:
ADA improvements: $5M
Outdoor Activity Center Improvements: $1.5M
Neighborhood Park Projects: $3.2M
The DPR will oversee this spending, which is funded by two bonds and a special sales
tax throughout the city. There are several parks slated to receive funding in 2023 from
this package, though the 2024-2026 funding allocations have not yet been determined.
Recommendation 2: Home Park Activation
50
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
In addition to the HPCIA itself hosting events, the park can be promoted as a
community space to be rented out to other organizations for events (P2.2). DPR uses
the platform iPARCS, which is an online reservation portal for park space throughout
the city. Home Park is not currently included on iPARCS, and thus cannot be reliably
reserved ahead of time for events. Using this platform, as well as renting out the park
itself, is free with a refundable deposit for anyone in the city. Once the park is added to
this system, it can be advertised as a destination for local organizations to rent.
A more ambitious opportunity exists for a redevelopment and reimagination of the
neighborhood’s namesake park. Current amenities are limited, and do not match with
the most frequent users of the park space. From interviews, surveys, and site visits, it
appears that the dominant users of this park are currently dog owners. Despite this,
the park has no resources for dogs, such as waste bags or a water fountain. Rather,
there is a faded playground for the small handful of children who visit the park with
their parents, often after being picked up from the daycare next door. However, parents
occasionally skip visiting the playground due to its placement in a drainage area of
the park, which is often riddled with mosquitos. Furthermore, according to ParkServe,
only 15% of the people served within a 10-minute walking radius of the park are under
18. Though Calhoun is a relatively quiet residential street, a fence runs along the side of
the park that faces the street. Since the other three sides of the park are also fenced in,
this can make visitors feel unwelcome or trapped inside.
Recommendation 3: Home Park
Development
Images of park activation inspiration
51
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.5 PARK | GREENSPACE
MASTER PLAN
Introducing programming for vacant areas of the park could be part of a larger
vision for redevelopment (P3.4). To fulll the desire of stakeholders for community
space, the empty grass space often soggy and lled with mosquitos could be
developed into a public square, inspired by those seen throughout historic Savannah.
A small fountain or public art could serve as the center of such a square, surrounded by
benches and lampposts. This would give a better sense of place to the area and could
function better as a meeting point for neighbors. Removing the fencing along Calhoun
Street could allow for a grander entrance to the park, along a walking path from the
street to the square and beyond.
For the many dogs who visit the park, space could be converted into a small, off-
leash dog park. The most cost-efcient option for this would be to use the back of the
park where the playground currently is, as it already has fencing on three sides and
would simply require a fourth. However, a more ideal option would be to convert the
underutilized basketball court into green space and reconnect this with the rest of the
park. Per guidance from DPR, dog parks are advised to be a minimum of two acres to
provide separate spaces for small and large dogs. However, the Atlantic Station Dog
Park down the road is a small 1,800 square feet and is quite popular with residents. The
dog park at Piedmont Park is only two miles down the road and features three acres of
space, which can be used as an alternative for large dog owners who would like more
space for their pets.
A few small-scale amenities can be added to bring energy and excitement to the
park. Possible improvements with cost estimates are shown below (P3.3):
Dog Waste Station
Cost: $250
Community Grill
Cost: $250
Home Park with and without fencing along Calhoun Street entrance
52
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Lastly, to get attention and excitement from DPR for this park’s redevelopment,
visitors can use the app Happi Feet to share feedback on the park and changes they
would like to see (P3.5).
As with Holly Street Park, the Studio Team conducted an analysis of local businesses
within a quarter-mile of the park to gauge fundraising prospects. This area had 44 total
businesses, including established and iconic businesses that call the neighborhood
home. In particular, the Turner Entertainment Network headquarters is within this area,
with a host of other media and entertainment companies located at either 1050 or 1060
Techwood Drive. These businesses can be targeted for park redevelopment fundraising
efforts (P3.1). Grants are also available to support park improvements (P3.2).
Local businesses landscape within ¼ mile of Home Park Park
Long term park redevelopment vision
53
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
6.5 PARK | GREENSPACE
MASTER PLAN
Through stakeholder interviews and surveys, residents made it extremely clear
that the tree canopy in Home Park is a key asset that should take precedence in new
development. One interview informed the project team that when people ask where he
lives in Atlanta, he identies it as “the neighborhood with all the trees”.
The neighborhood’s treasured tree canopy should be advocated for where strong,
and built out where lacking. Councilmember Jason Dozier is leading the working group
tasked with updating Atlantas Tree Protection Ordinance; the group intends to announce
updates to the TPO before the end of 2023. Neighbors can write to Councilmember
Dozier, as well as District 3’s Councilmember Amos, in support of a stronger ordinance
(P4.1).
Though the neighborhood’s tree canopy is strong overall, it is not distributed evenly
throughout Home Park. It is strongest along interior roads throughout the neighborhood,
and weakest along main corridors. GDOT’s stringent right of way policies requires
special permitting to add street trees; urban design streetscape recommendations
will address the lack of trees along 14th Street. However, key nodes of the neighborhood
(Hemphill and 10th, State and 14th) as well as entire corridors (State Street, 16th Street)
are surrounded by landowners who might be easier to work with in improving tree
canopy.
Recommendation 4: Tree Canopy Protection and
Development
Volunteer tree planting event, organized by Trees
Atlanta
54
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Trees Atlanta determines planting sites based on a handful of factors: requests from
homeowners and community members, areas with low tree canopy cover, locations with
planting space for more trees, and partnerships with community groups, organizations,
and businesses. In particular, the organization has two programs pertinent to Home
Park’s canopy. The Front Yard Tree Program allows Atlanta City residents to request up to
three free trees to be planted in their front yards (P4.2). This program is entirely free for
Atlanta residents, with applications received year-round. Volunteers will come to plant
the trees, with landowners responsible for maintenance. Secondly, their Neighborhood
Tree Planting Program will plant thirty or more trees in either front yards or public
right-of-way, with help from neighborhood volunteers (P4.3). Trees Atlanta provides
maintenance for two years after the trees are planted for this program. HPCIA can work
to get buy-in from neighbors and business owners around key nodes and corridors to
participate in these programs.
Priority tree planting target areas, layered with existing inventory of trees planted by Trees Atlanta
55
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Name Project Timeframe Partner |
responnsibility
Potential
funding source Notes
Transportation
T1: State Street Multimodal Corridor
T1.1
Implement the
new cross section
concept for State
Street
2023/2024 City of Atlanta
Repaving/resur-
facing funding
pool
See concept plans in “Transportation”
section
T2: 14th Street Road Diet
T2.1
Implement the new
road diet concept
for 14th Street
2024/2025+ GDOT
Repaving/resur-
facing funding
pool
See concept plans in “Transportation”
section
T3: Other Recommendations
T3.1 10th and Atlantic Dr. 2023/2024 City of Atlanta/
Georgia Tech
Seek adoption as
a GA Tech Capital
Project
Seek inclusion in the planned 10th Street
Multi-Use Trail
Housing
H1: Short-Term Rental Management
H1.1
Support ordinance
20-O-1759 through
adoption
2023 City of Atlanta/
HPCIA N/A N/A
H1.2
Establishing the
requirement of a
special use permit
to run a STR in
Home Park
2023/2024 City of Atlanta/
HPCIA N/A
This requires conversations with the
office of Councilmember Amos to gener-
ate legislation and have this designation
reflected in the code of ordinances.
H2: Parking
H2.1
Refer to the city’s
study and decide
which street park-
ing recommenda-
tions to implement
2023/2024 City of Atlanta N/A
Will require conversations with office
of Councilmember Amos and ATLDOT
to coordinate and implement selected
street recommendations.
H3: Beautification
H3.1
Establish a
Home Park Stu-
dent-Tenant Asso-
ciation
2023 HPCIA N/A
After initial contact and conversation
with existing student tenants, coordinate
the creation of this student organization
according to the steps laid out by Geor-
gia Tech’s Center for Student Engage-
ment.
H3.2 Resume monthly
bulk trash pickups 2023 City of Atlanta/
HPCIA N/A
Communicate with Solid Waste Ser-
vices personnel to get recurring pickups
scheduled. Talks with the office Coun-
cilmember Amos may be warranted to
gain more support.
H3.3 Informational flyers 2023 HPCIA HPCIA discretion
Put out flyers for new residents on how
to deal with their bulk trash and info to
join the student-tenant association.
H3.4 Thrift store partner-
ships 2023 HPCIA N/A
Partner with Goodwill or other local thrift
stores to give student tenants moving
out the option to donate their items if in
good condition
7. COMMUNITY WORK PLAN
MASTER PLAN
56
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Name Project Timeframe Partner |
responnsibility
Potential
funding source Notes
Land Use
L1: Commercial Rezoning
L1.1
Submit rezoning
application for com-
mercial properties
to City of Atlanta
2023 HPCIA N/A
Will require meeting with Concept
Review Committee and a public hear-
ing with notice given to affected and
surrounding parcels
L2: Zoning Rewrite Involvement
L2.1
Draft a Neighbor-
hood Identity State-
ment for the City to
consider
2023 HPCIA N/A Should specify aspects to preserve, add,
and improve upon
L2.2
Attend Focused
Workshop for Con-
servation Areas
2023 HPCIA/Home
Park residents N/A
Can attend either in-person at Junction
2800 or online on April 13, 2023 at 6:30
pm
L3: Communication with Surrounding Neighborhoods
L3.1
Contact representa-
tives of surrounding
neighborhoods and
propose regular
meetings
2023/2024 HPCIA N/A
Groups representing Midtown, Atlan-
tic Station, Marietta Street Artery, and
Georgia Tech should be engaged as
they share boundaries with Home Park
L4: Residential Vision
L4.1
Explore and draft a
neighborhood vi-
sion for desired R-5
development
2023/2024 HPCIA/Home
Park residents N/A
Establish neighborhood consensus on
opportunities for two-family residential
future development
Urban Design
U1: Neighborhood Commercial Centers
U1.1
Creation of walk-
able, communi-
ty-scale mixed-use
centers at the
intersections of 10th
and Hemphill and
14th and State.
2024/2025+ City of Atlanta N/A N/A
U1.2
Streetscape im-
provements along
10th and 14th
Streets
2024/2025 City of Atlanta/
GDOT
2022-2026 Com-
munity Work
Program (CWP)
Streetscape improvement projects iden-
tified by the City of Atlanta, but funds or
a timetable have not been established
U1.3
Off-street parking
relocation to rear of
commercial struc-
tures on 10th and
14th Streets.
2024/2025+ City of Atlanta N/A N/A
U2: Neighborhood Design Guidelines
U2.1 SPI-8 Overlay
Amendment 2023/2024
Atlanta City Coun-
cil/Atlanta Zoning
Review Board
N/A N/A
U2.2 Design Committee 2023 HPCIA N/A New HPCIA committee
57
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
7. COMMUNITY WORK PLAN
MASTER PLAN
Name Project Timeframe Partner |
responnsibility
Potential
funding source Notes
Urban Design
U3: Interior Neighborhood Streetscape Improvements
U3.1
Reconnect and
repair interior
sidewalk network;
preserve street trees
2024/2025 City of Atlanta N/A
Pressuring the city by pointing out
specific spots for repair may help move
projects along
U4: Improved Sense of Place
U4.1
Unique identifying
signs from homes
to display address
numbers
2023 HPCIA (Brad)
Community fund-
raising may be
helpful for this.
N/A
U4.2
Banners atop
lampposts and
utility poles along
10th and 14th
Streets
2023/2024 City of Atlanta N/A N/A
U4.3
Unique, large-scale
welcoming signs
at neighborhood
entrances.
2024/2025 HPCIA/City of
Atlanta
Neighborhood
fundraising/City
of Atlanta
N/A
Parks | Greenspace
P1: Holly Street Park Development
P1.1
Administer
community
survey on Park
Development
2023
Atlanta Depart-
ment of Parks
and Recreation
(DPR)
In-kind time from
volunteer HPCIA
surveyors
Task is in support of Atlanta's 2023-2027
Impact Fee Capital Improvements Ele-
ment (CIE)
P1.2
Rate the park on
the DPR Data
Equity Tool
2023
Atlanta Depart-
ment of Parks
and Recreation
(DPR)
DPR Urban
Planner: Currently
serving this role
is Tara L. Buckner,
M.P.A., AICP.
N/A
Task supports the Activate ATL Compre-
hensive Park Plan
Data Equity Tool Website
P1.3
Fundraise for park
development,
with a focus on
businesses and
neighbors identified
within a quarter
mile buffer
2023
HPCIA fundrais-
ing committee/
designated fund-
raising
N/A
Emphasize focus on businesses with
easy access to the park: north of 14th
street, south of 17th street
P2: Home Park Activation
P2.1
Organize signature
Home Park Event,
hosted in the park
2023
HPCIA, partner-
ship with local
businesses and
organizations as
vendors, Georgia
Tech
Suggested cost
of admission to
cover costs, in-
kind donations
from businesses,
potential funding
from Georgia
Tech
N/A
58
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Name Project Timeframe Partner |
responnsibility
Potential
funding source Notes
P2.2 Register Home Park
Park on iPARCS 2023
Atlanta Depart-
ment of Parks
and Recreation
(DPR)
N/A iPARCS Atlanta Website
P3: Home Park Park Development
P3.1
Fundraise for park
development,
with a focus on
businesses and
neighbors identified
within a quarter
mile buffer
2023
HPCIA fundrais-
ing committee/
designated fund-
raising
N/A
Emphasize focus on businesses with
easy access to the park: South of 14th
street, North of 10th street
P3.2
Seek grant
support for park
improvements
2023 Park Pride
Park Pride Grant-
making Program:
awards range from
$250 to $100,000
Park Pride Grant Program
P3.3
Install short-term
improvements for
the park
2023
Atlanta Depart-
ment of Parks
and Recreation
(DPR)
Funding received
from above sourc-
es
Possible improvements could include:
- Dog waste station
- Community Grill
- Calhoun Street Fence Removal
P3.4
Implement longer-
term improvements
for the park
2024
Atlanta Depart-
ment of Parks
and Recreation
(DPR)
Funding received
from above sourc-
es
Possible improvements could include:
- Dog Park
- Public plaza
- Picnic Area
P3.5
Promote the app
HappiFeet to
encourage park
visitors to share
feedback on the
park directly with
the Department
of Parks and
Recreation
2023 N/A N/A
https://keephappifeet.com/
https://www.activate-atl.com/engage.
html
P4: Tree Canopy Protection and Development
P4.1
Support Tree
Protection
Ordinance (TPO)
update
2023
Councilmember
Dozier, chair of
the Community
Development/
Human Services;
Councilmember
Amos, District 3
N/A Send in comments in late 2022/early
2023
P4.2 Trees Atlanta Front
Yard Tree Program 2023
Trees Atlanta;
Homeowners,
cooperating land-
lords and land
owners
N/A Tree plantings occur October through
March
P4.3
Trees Atlanta
Neighborhood Tree
Planting Program
2023/2024
Trees Atlanta;
business owners,
cooperating land
owners; and vol-
unteer residents
for tree planting
N/A
Focus on major intersections (Hemphill
and 10th, State street and 14th) and
major corridors (Hemphill Avenue, State
Street)
59
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
Appendix A
Analysis Methodology
Raw responses were recorded and thoroughly analyzed to create a comprehensive
list of response categories for each question. The results were aggregated across all
13 resident interviews to create a nal response count. Unique responses that had a
single mention or didn’t t neatly into a category were still included in aggregated
response lists. Please note that if a respondent mentioned the same topic multiple
times in response to a question, these multiple mentions were counted only once for
the purposes of aggregation. This ensured equal representation of respondents in nal
counts. For example: If an interviewee, in response to Question 1, repeatedly mentioned
that their favorite thing about living in Home Park was the tree canopy, this only counted
once towards the aggregated count for “Tree Canopy.
*Bold numbers in parentheses denote the number of respondents that mentioned that
topic in their answer
1. What do you like about living in Home Park?
Location (9)
Close to Tech, Atlantic Station, West Midtown, Grocery Stores, Midtown,
Piedmont Park, Restaurants, Interstate
Quiet/Sleepy (5)
Includes privacy from rest of city
Tree Canopy (5)
Affordable (3)
Grid System (2)
Walkable/Bikeable (2)
Population diversity (2)
Lot size/yard (1)
Good Neighbors (1)
Lack of HOA (1)
2. What do you dislike about living in Home Park?
Landlords not attending to their properties (6)
HPCIA could advocate more for renter’s rights
Lack of Parking/Inconsistent enforcement (5)
Includes non-moving cars
Streamlined plate parking system works better
Limited parking on 14th Street pushes commercial parking into residential
areas
Rough sidewalks (5)
Cleanliness (4)
City’s Bulk Item removal
Idea for regular swap meet for students to exchange large items
60
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
3. What is your primary mode of travel?
Car primary (3)
Biking primary (3)
Bike/Walk/Car (2)
Walking primary (1)
4. What is your ideal mode of travel?
Walking (4)
Biking (4)
Car (2)
5. What are the most dangerous or inconvenient streets/intersections in Home Park?
14th/Atlantic Intersection (4)
Atlantic Drive unsafe, speeding
State St/16th St Intersection diverter needs to be remodeled (3)
Hemphill & Mcmillan & 10th St Intersection (2)
State, Calhoun crosswalks over 14th Street (1)
State St (1)
Dislike of thru-trafc
Hemphill (1)
5-way intersection near Anticos (1)
Lack of City support (3)
Empty feeling of neighborhood (3)
STR’s (2)
Dangerous Arterial Streets (2)
For driving, walking, and biking
Noise, disrespect of the area, bird scooters, increasing the cost of property
Development pressures (2)
Safety at night (1)
Homeless Encampment on Hampton St NW (1)
Architecture of homes (1)
HP has too much parking, too xated on parking (1)
SPI-8 causes development to be too expensive
No attraction/activities (1)
Lack of connectivity, East/West (1)
Also North because of the railroad
61
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
Appendix A
6. What should be done about the 14th Street safety problem?
Bike Lanes on existing road (6)
Could include 2 lane with turn lane
Trafc calming measures (3)
Better Pedestrian Crossings (3)
“Hawk Lights”
Streetscaping (2)
Trees
Widening road to install bike lanes (1)
Parking on both sides by removing travel lane (1)
7. What is your opinion of public transit around Home Park?
Only use train for limited destinations (airport, Mercedes Benz Stadium) (4)
Confusing bus system (3)
Unreliable bus system (3)
Inconvenient bus system (2)
No shelters at bus stops (1)
Uses bus route and train (1)
Never going to use public transit (1)
8. What type of development is suitable for 14th Street?
Mixed-use, midrise buildings (2-3 story) (6)
Boutique Shops/Restaurants/Coffee Shops/Bars (6)
Pedestrian Friendly Business (5)
Parking in rear
Neighborhood Markets (1)
Demolish one side, make a large boulevard (1)
Fast Food Chains (1)
Apartments (4-5 story) (1)
Adaptive reuse of existing buildings (1)
9. What type of development is suitable for 10th Street?
Apartments (2)
The Local is a good example of appropriate size
Student Housing (2)
2-3 Story cap (1)
Retain single family residential with pockets of commercial/restaurant (1)
Adaptive reuse of existing buildings (1)
Existing Single-Family Homes converted to businesses (I.e. coffee shops)
Reuse of existing buildings as apartments (I.e. church -> apts)
62
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
10. What are your thoughts on scale and development styles
when it comes to the interior of Home Park?
New construction should maintain the traditional character of Home Park (4)
Modern style homes are ne (2)
Tree Canopy should take precedence (2)
Commercial Development within neighborhood is needed (2)
Neighborhood Markets
Refurbishing of existing homes is preferable to new residential (2)
Should be strictly residential (2)
Townhomes or a small apartment complex (1)
Increased density
11. What can be done to strengthen Home Parks sense of community?
Signage for Home Park (3)
Emphasis on the history of the area (2)
Barbeques, street parties (1)
Having neighbor’s contact information (1)
A mural on Waterworks on Northside (1)
12. What is your opinion on short term rentals (STRs) in Home Park?
Take away valuable resident real estate (4)
Take away parking from residents (4)
Don’t add to the community (3)
Generally, not a problem (2)
Exciting to see the new people always coming in
13. What are your opinions about greenspace in Home Park?
Parks should have purposeful activities/installations (4)
Multi-age play features, trail, pickleball
Low intensity serves resident needs (3)
Greenspace needs lighting at night (1)
Greenspace needs to be well-maintained (1)
63
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
Appendix A
14. What are your perceptions of safety within Home Park?
Property crime is predominant form (7)
Low crime rate (6)
New lighting helps (6)
Cameras needed (2)
Will never be satised with crime rate (1)
Good connectivity between GT PD, ATL PD, and Atlantic Station Security (1)
15. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
GT high tech manufacturing going in off of 14th Street near the golf course, big
investment hoping to spur mixed-use in the immediate area
Parking is the sticking point for many development proposals
Unique zoning is needed for Atlanta neighborhoods
64
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
SURVEY RESULTS
Appendix B
Analysis Methodology
Raw responses were thoroughly analyzed to create a comprehensive list of response
categories for each question. The results were aggregated across all 30 survey
responses to create a nal response count. Unique responses that had a single mention
or didn’t t neatly into a category were still included in aggregated response lists.
Please note that if a respondent mentioned the same topic multiple times in response
to a question, these multiple mentions were counted only once for the purposes of
aggregation. This ensured equal representation of respondents in nal counts. For
example: If an interviewee, in response to Question 3, repeatedly mentioned that their
favorite thing about living in Home Park was the tree canopy, this only counted once
towards the aggregated count for “Tree Canopy”.
*Bold numbers in parentheses denote the number of respondents that mentioned that
topic in their answer
1. Which of the following best describes your afliation with Home Park
2. How would you describe the current character of the Home Park neighborhood?
Positive Neutral Negative
Friendly/Nice (5)
Walkable (2)
Affordable (2)
Quiet (2)
Improving/promising (2)
Safe (1)
Residential (9)
Family
Student Housing
Transitional (6)
Mixture of traditional homes
and new construction
Developmental Pressure
Diverse/Mixture of People (4)
Eclectic (3)
Run-down (5)
Short Term Rental (4)
Empty/Lacking Community (2)
Declining (2)
65
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
SURVEY RESULTS
Appendix B
3. Home Park’s greatest strength is…
Location (18)
Access to Midtown, West Midtown, GA Tech, Interstate, Atlantic Station,
Downtown, Restaurants, Shopping
Residential Nature (5)
Diversity (3)
Strong Sense of Community (3)
Tree Canopy (3)
Walkability (1)
Affordability (2)
Good Public Schools (1)
Layout (1)
Liveliness (1)
Hidden Jem (1)
4. Suitable Developments for 10th Street
*Methodology: The survey question asks about suitable development on both 10th
and 14th Streets. If a response did not specify a street, that response was counted for
both 10th and 14th Streets in the appropriate category. The counts reect mentions
of a category. Each respondent can have a maximum of (1) count for each category.
For example, if a respondent mentions Small apartment complex and 2-3 story
maximum commercial building this will count as (1) for In-scale with existing
residential of neighborhood, (1) for Multifamily, multistory and (1) for Unspecied
Commercial.
Housing
Unspecied Residential (5)
Single Family, Townhome, Duplex (5)
Multifamily, multistory (6)
Business
Unspecied Commercial (2)
Shops, restaurants (4)
Mixed Use (6)
In-scale with existing residential of neighborhood (7)
Pedestrian focused (3)
Reuse of existing buildings (1)
66
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
5. Suitable Developments for 14th Street
*Methodology: Same as the question #4
Housing
Single Family, Townhome, Duplex (5)
Multifamily, multistory (3)
Unspecied Residential (2)
Business
Shops, restaurants, cafe (7)
Unspecied Commercial (4)
Mixed Use (9)
In-scale with existing residential of neighborhood (9)
Pedestrian focused (2)
Reuse of existing buildings (1)
6. Most Dangerous Places to Walk, Bike, or Drive in Home Park
Streets in general:
14th Street (11)
Lacks trafc lights and pedestrian crossings, excessive speeds, late
afternoon sun affecting westbound visibility, no police enforcement of
trafc laws, suggestion of 2 lane w/ turn lane and bike lanes
10th Street (4)
Excessive speeds
Northside Drive (2)
Center Street (1)
State Street (1)
Crime for pedestrians
16th Street (1)
Too narrow (hard for emergency vehicle access), suggestion of 1 way trafc
Hemphill (1)
Decreased visibility when turning onto Hemphill from side streets due to
angle (Rosalyn & Curran particularly)
All Side Streets (1)
Lack of lighting and sidewalks
Specic Intersections
Atlantic Drive & 14th Street (14)
No trafc light, blind hill, trafc volume, excessive speeds, misalignment
of 14th St, no signal for pedestrian crosswalk, Atlantic Drive is the rst
through-street after Turner (making it a major cut through for Tech student
pedestrians), restricted visibility for pedestrians/drivers due to bush/tree
when going north, suggestion of “Hawk Light Crosswalk
67
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
SURVEY RESULTS
Appendix B
Atlantic Drive & 10th Street (1)
There is no trafc light to tell bikers headed north (away from GT) when to
go. Also, due to the angle, it is difcult to see the crosswalk signal (as a biker
in the middle of the multi-use path on GT’s campus)
Francis Street & 14th Street (1)
State Street & 14th Street (1)
Center Street & 10th Street (1)
Northside Drive & 14th Street (1)
Lack of pedestrian infrastructure
7. I Would Bike/Walk More If:
Bike Lanes (9)
Many mentions of protected bike lanes, also specically on 10th and 14th
Streets
Better Sidewalks (6)
Specic mention of wider sidewalks on 14th Street
Better Crosswalks (5)
Better pedestrian visibility, advanced warning for cars
Better enforcement of trafc laws (4)
Speed limit enforcement, crosswalk law enforcement, parking enforcement
I already walk/bike and nothing could make me do it more (4)
Better Connectivity to Broader Ped/Bike Network (2)
Improved road condition (1)
More businesses within walking distance (1)
Decreased trafc on residential streets (1)
Increased aesthetics of Home Park (1)
Access to a bicycle (1)
8. Home Park’s Greatest Weakness:
Irresponsible landlords/Airbnb owners (7)
Specic mentions of poor living conditions for foreign college students, hard
to get ahold of owners
Unkept properties (5)
New construction out of character of neighborhood (4)
Short Term Rentals (3)
Bisected by 14th Street (3)
Lack of Community/identity (3)
Lack of direction
Neighborhood leadership resistance to change (2)
Specic mentions of stiing new business prospects
68
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Lack of renter representation on HPCIA (1)
Lack of support from City of Atlanta (1)
Vehicle trafc (1)
Crime (1)
Dirty (1)
9. # 1 Thing Home Park is Missing:
Community Gathering Place/Green Space (4)
Small-Scale Shops/Restaurants/Amenities (4)
Sense of Community (3)
Possibly with annual events, need to foster this sense between all of the
different groups that live in Home Park
Owner Occupants (3)
Pedestrian & Biking Connectivity/Infrastructure (2)
Grocery Store (2)
Drug Store (1)
Neighborhood Bar (1)
Protection of Single-Family Housing (1)
Higher density development (1)
Master Plan (1)
Political Inuence (1)
More representative community input by HPCIA (1)
Safer trafc conditions (1)
Good Landlords (1)
For good rental property maintenance
69
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
HOME PARK PARKING RESTRICTIONS FIELD ASSESSMENT
Appendix C
Street Street
Width
(ft.)
Existing
Parking
Restriction
Proposed Parking
Restriction Proposed One-
Way Conversion Comment 8/16/2008 Neighborhood
Meeting Comments
Hampton St 24 None Westside None No comment
Curran St 18 West side None Ordinance approved for
one-way conversion
Ordinance to make
the street one-way
passed based on
Fire Department
recommendation.
One-way signs to be
installed the week of
9/29/20008
No comment
McMillan St
18' North of
Ethel St;
24' south of
Ethel St
East side - South
of Calhoun St;
west side -North of
Ethel St
Existing restriction plus West
side of the street between
Ethel St & Calhoun St
Southbound between
Ethel St and 14th St
one-way proposal
applies to McMillan St
north of Ethel St which is
only 18 feet wide.
No comment
Terrell St 16 West side Both sides None
Fire Dept recommends
parking restriction on
both sides
No comment
Center St 24 West side north of
Calhoun St
Extend parking restriction
on west side of the street
between Calhoun St & 10th St None No comment
Snyder St 18 West side none but need more parking
restriction signs
it is already a one-way
street southbound No comment
Hirsch St 24 Westside north of
Calhoun Extend westside NPA to 10th St None No comment
Tumlin St 18 Westside One-way Southbound one-way southbound as a couplet
with Mecaslin St
Mecaslin St 18 Both sides north of
Ethel Parking restriction on one
side for entire st One-way Norththbound
One-way northbound south of
380 14th St driveway. Keep two-
way trafc between 14th St & the
driveway
State Street 40 None None None No comment
Atlantic St 32 None None None No comment
Ethel St 24
both sides east of
Curran St; south side
east of Snyder St
Existing restriction plus south
side of Ethel St between
Curran St & Snyder St None
Enforce existing NPA signs. Fire
Dept recommended one side NPA.
Reduction in amount of existing
parking is an issue. Residents
believe that there are breaks in
parking due to existing driveways.
Calhoun St 24 South side None None No comment
Lynch St 22
North side & south
side in different
blocks - entire street
Keep existing restriction None No comment
Richards St 18 North side Keep existing restriction Eastbound
Residents recommends reopening
of existing alley for parking. Shift
parking to NORTHSIDE of the street
due to high curb on the Southside.
Fire Dept recommends making it
one-way W/B to turn into Richards
St. Residents concur with Fire Dept
recommendation if it has to be
made one-way.
11th St 24 Southside & West
side
Parking restriction on south
side for entire st None
Conicting signs
(residential permit
parking and no parking
signs are in place on
the south side of the
street
No comment
Home Park
Ave 24 North side None None May need more parking
restriction signs No comment
70
HOME PARK STUDIO 2022
Street Street
Width
(ft.)
Existing
Parking
Restriction
Proposed Parking
Restriction Proposed One-
Way Conversion Comment 8/16/2008 Neighborhood
Meeting Comments
Mecaslin St 30 None None None Install NPA north of 15th St since it is
too narrow.
State Street 32
None - Residential
Parking Program
both sides
None None
Atlantic St 32 None None none
Francis St 24 None Parking restriction on one
side of entire st None
Could create
alternating parking
restrictions to
discourage speeding.
Install NPA near 16th St. Residents do
not recommend making it one-way
or installation of NPA due to fear
that speed will increase.
Holly St 24
None - Residential
Parking Program
both sides
Parking restriction on one side
of entire st and restriction on
both sifdes near 16th St
None
Create alternating parking
restrictions to discourage speeding.
Install NPA near 16th St.
Barnes St 24 None
Parking restriction on one side
of entire st and restriction on
both sifdes near 16th St
None
Could create
alternating parking
restrictions to
discourage speeding.
Create alternating parking
restrictions to discourage speeding.
Install NPA near 16th St.
Fowler St 24 None Parking restriction on one
side of entire st None
NOTE: The eld assessment provided in the table reects conditions as of 2008.
71
GEORIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Home Park Studio.
SCHOOL OF CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING
Fall 2022